Minister criticises Govt's failure to acquire land for parks

Kochi, Dec 8 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh today expressed unhappiness over the Kerala Government's ''failure'' to acquire land for two proposed spice parks in the state and warned that the projects would be moved elsewhere.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Ramesh said ''If the Kerala Government does not acquire the land by February, 13, 2008, we will set up the parks elsewhere.'' The Spices Board was offered 75 hectares of land free of cost in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu for the project.

Pointing out that the Spices Board had signed an agreement with the Kerala Infrastructure Development Authority, KINFRA, in February, 13, this year to set up two Spice Parks in Idukki district, Mr Ramesh said the state government was unable to acquire the land so far.

Mr Ramesh said private sector players such as Eastern Curry and AVT had already expressed an interest in investing in the Spice Parks. The Centre was also keen to attract MNC units in these parks, he said.

Mr Ramesh said once the land acquisition was done, the Spices Board would invest Rs ten crore immediately to get the work started.

UNI