CM charges Centre with obstructing Commission report

Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today criticised the Union Water Resources Ministry for impeding the implementation of the M S Swaminathan Commission report on the revival of Kuttanad area.

Talking to newspersons here, he said, ''Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz is delaying the package, citing some technicalities.'' The Chief Minister made this comment on the basis of the second Swaminathan Commission report on the revival of the farm sector in Idukki District.

Noting that the ''report just remained a report'' the Chief Minister said the benefits had not reached the people of Kuttanad.

Mr Achuthanandan said the government would pressurise the Centre to implement Kuttanad package. ''Every time we met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, they assured of implementing the report soon. The government will invite Mr Soz to the state to review the Kuttanad area,'' he added.

The Chief Miister demanded implementation of the Idukki package.

The Swaminathan Commission had recommended Rs 1,840 crore package for revival of Kuttanad area. The package included revival of farming, ecological rehabilitation and livelihood enhancement. In the second report on the revival of farm sector in Idukki district, the commission had recommended Rs 1,876 crore package.

UNI PN DS AM CS1935