MPs will intervene regardless of politics to protect interest of state

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The MPs from Kerala will jointly submit a petition to the Centre on the state's financial issues. In a meeting convened by the Chief Minister at the Thycaud guest house yesterday, the MPs stated that they would intervene regardless of party politics to protect the state's interests.

Steps will be taken for time-bound completion of central projects and utilization of funds. The state government had given administrative permission for land acquisition for the Global City project in Aluva taluk. Necessary intervention will be taken to reverse the central government's decision to stop the project.

Steps will be taken to help Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology to get permission from the Department of Science and Technology to form a special-purpose vehicle for the Medical Devices Park to be set up in collaboration with the Industrial Development Corporation in Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala used to receive around 16 lakh metric tonnes of food grains prior to the implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013. The annual allocation has been drastically cut to 14.25 lakh metric tonnes. The MPs will make necessary interventions to correct this action of the Centre.

Other decisions

• Will exert pressure on the Centre to establish AIIMS at Kinalur in Kozhikode
• Will intervene to intensify the follow-up works of Thalassery Mysore, Nilambur Nanjangud, Kanhangad Kanoyoor Panathur Sabari Rail Projects
• Problem areas on the National Highway will be visited under the leadership of the Public Works Department.
• A special package of Rs 24,000 crore is required due to the reduction in funds and grants from the central government.
• A package of 5000 crore should be allocated for the Vizhinjam International Port project
• As the state experienced severe drought in the year, a package should be announced to overcome the economic loss and crisis of the farmers

MPs KC Venugopal, Kodikunnil Suresh, Jose K Mani, K Radhakrishnan, Benny Behanan, Adoor Prakash, Anto Antony, Rajmohan Unnithan, ET Mohammed Basheer, MK Raghavan, Abdussamad Samadani, Jebi Mather, AA Rahim, V Sivdasan, John Brittas, Shafi Parambil, Francis George, PP Suneer, Harris Beeran and various state ministers also participated.