THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister P Rajeev said in the Assembly that 37 banks are ready to give loans to entrepreneurs in the state at an interest rate of 4 percent.

"34,303 enterprises were registered in three months. An investment of 2,409 crores has been received through this. Around 80,000 people have expressed interest in becoming new entrepreneurs," he said.

"KINFRA's study has identified an excess of 361.42 acres of land for industrial ventures. A plan is being prepared to provide 40 acres from this to nine institutions to start enterprises. The number of profitable PSUs has increased from 16 to 26. The government wants the public sector enterprises to operate competitively and profitably. But the Centre's policy is to privatize everything. As part of this, it is allowing private capital companies even in strategic sectors. Minerals such as ilmenite are constitutionally owned by states. However, the changes are brought in by the Centre, which has the right to make decisions on these issues. However, changes are being brought so that the Centre will have the right to make decisions on these minerals," the minister said.

"Mining is done in an ecologically balanced way. However, when private monopolies come in, the operation will be in such a way that there will be environmental damage in the coastal area. Concerns have been conveyed to the Centre in writing. Will write to the Centre once again after checking the legal procedures," he added.