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Achuthanandan: volte-face by Centre on Kuttanad package

ALAPPUZHA: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has accused the Centre of performing a volte-face on its assurance on implementation of the Rs.1,839.75-crore Kuttanad package after the Left withdrew its support to the Manmohan Singh government.

Speaking after the State-level launch of interest-free loans for paddy farmers here on Saturday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the impression created by the Centre since the constitution of the M.S. Swaminathan commission was that three-fourths of the funds for the execution of the package would be provided by the Centre. However, after dilly-dallying with the approval of the package for nearly a year, the Centre has now put three-fourths of the burden on the State. This owes its origin to the Left withdrawing support to the United Progressive Alliance government.

Frantic efforts were on to portray the package as an unmatched favour for Kerala, with certain sections of the media writing editorials, saying that the State government should implement it at any cost. These were done without understanding the actual financial liabilities, he said, calling upon the media to get the facts right.

Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that the Centre was yet to release any compensation for the extensive damage caused to the farm sector in March by summer rain.

Cooperation Minister G. Sudhakaran, citing the revised expenditure structure of the package, called it a “punishment package.” The Centre was making evident its step-motherly attitude to Kerala and at the same time, trying to gain mileage through cheap tactics.

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