Centre's response to Kerala's needs positive: VS

Thiruvananthapuram, July 9 (UNI) Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said that the Centre had responded positively towards Kerala's demands such as special package for the crisis-ridden farm sector, adequate flood relief assistance and clearance to some of the pending projects.

Talking to the media on his return from New delhi after leading a ministerial delegation to the Centre, he said this was reflected in the decision of the Centre to include three districts in Kerala among the 31 districts identified for grant of a rehabilitation package on the lines one announced for the Vidarbha region in Maharashtra.

Wayanad, Kasaragod and Palakkad are the districts included in the list of 31 districts for the rehabilitation package. Kerala has demanded inclusion of Idukki district also in the list, Mr Achuthanandan said.

He said a Central team would arrive the State on July 11 to assess the damages caused to agriculture in the recent rain and flood.

The Centre had been asked to compensate Rs 149 crore already spent by the State Government to provide relief to the flood victims. The delegation had also urged the Centre to allot Rs 900 crore to take up rehabilitation work during natural calamities like rain and flood which was annual feature in Kerala.

Mr Achuthanandan said political clearance for the Vizhinjam Deepwater International Container Terminal and environmental clearance for the Vallarpadom Container Transhipment Terminal had also been sought when the delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Union Ministers.

Dr Singh had agreed to visit the State after the Parliament session or in between. He had been requested to lay the foundation stone of the Vizhinjam project.

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