Kerala's economic position healthy: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, May 8 (UNI) Kerala Finance Minister Vakkom Purushotaman today said the state exchequer had Rs 201.46 crore in surplus and there was no ways and means advances or overdraft pending with the RBI.

''There was a surplus of Rs 146.72 crore till March this year.

This stood at Rs 201.46 crore as on May six,'' he told a press conference, which, he said, was his last as the Finance Minister of the state.

Mr Purushotaman had earlier said that he would not be contesting any elections in the future.

He said when the UDF Government came to power in 2001, there was an overdraft of Rs 358.75 crore and Rs 226.62 crore as Ways and Means advances.

The UDF Government was able to bring down the overdraft and the ways and means advances. Last year, it had not drawn any over draft and this year, we have a surplus of Rs 201.46 crore in the treasury without any overdraft or ways and means advances, he added.

Lashing out at the Opposition, Mr Purushotaman said the figure of Rs 60,000 crore of debt given by them was quite exaggerating. ''The total debt of the state stood at Rs 45,024 crore till March 31, 2006. Besides, the growth of debt had been brought down by the UDF Government.

When it assumed office, the government had to borrow money as the state was not able to meet the development works with the revenue collected.

Mr Purushotaman also refuted the charge the government had not paid contractors their dues. The UDF Government paid Rs 2,105 crore to them in arrears as against Rs 1,700 crore paid by the previous LDF Government, he said. Besides, pension, unemployement dole and other assistance were being given regularly from last July.

On a personal note, Mr Purushotaman said he was stepping down from the government after 35 years. ''When I leave the place, I do not feel any regret. I step down with satisfaction that I have done my duties to my ability.'' The Minister also commented that a person after 70's should retire from politics. ''If a person after 80 still clings on to politics, then he would become a nuisance,'' he added.

To a question, Mr Purushotaman said he had not asked any one for any post. He was a satisfied man who had played many roles like Speaker, Minister and Lieutenant Governor of Andamans.

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