Kerala to ask for reconsidering state's borrowing power

Thiruvananthapuram, July 6 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said the State Government would ask the Centre to reconsider its decision to reduce the borrowing limit of the state from Rs 6,240 crore to Rs 4,624 crore and also for expediting pending projects like the Vallarpadam Container Terminal and giving clearance for the proposed Vizhinjam port.

He said the decision to reduce the borrowing limit of the State would be taken up with the Prime Minister and the concerned Ministers.

Major crisis faced by Kerala was in the agriculture sector and the Centre would be asked to provide a special package for it, Mr Achuthanandan told reporters after a conference of the Members of Parliament from the State.

A Central team had visited Wayanad district recently to study the farmer's problems, he said and added that the Centre, which had provided a special package for the Vidharbha region in Maharashtra, had done nothing for Kerala in this regard. The Centre should at least provide assistance to the family of the farmers who committed suicide due to debt.

Mr Achuthanandan called upon the MPs to exert pressure on the Centre and raise their voice in the Parliament and also outside for getting the state's due share.

The MPs' conference was convened ahead of the Parliament session.

Besides, he also asked the MPs to fight for expediting the pending development works like the Vallarpadam Container Terminal Project, setting up of an Indian Institute of Technology, clearance of the proposed Vizhinjam port and upgradation of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College on par with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Mr Achuthanandan said he would also ask the Centre to include the State in the Golden Quadrilateral project and also for developing the railways in the state.

UNI PN1858