Thiruvananthapuram > Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said Kerala is keen to cooperate with the Centre on development issues relating to the state and asked MPs to bring to the Centre's notice, any issues which pose hurdles.
"The state is keen to cooperate with the Centre on issues relating to Kerala's development. Members of Parliament should bring to the Centre's notice issues which are posing hurdles in the state's development," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
said at a meeting of MPs of the state.
The Chief Minister said implementation of the National Food Security Act in Kerala saw the state facing a sharp cut in its quota of foodgrains.
An all-party delegation, led by Vijayan, wanted to meet the Prime Minister to seek to bring pressure on him to re-instate the state' share. However, permission had been denied, a release quoting the chief minister said.
On the state's long pending demand for a rail coach factory at Kanjikode in Palakkad, Vijayan alleged that the 'non cooperation' by Railways and Centre has to end. A resolution to this effect was passed at the meeting.
The meeting also criticised the decision to do away with Niti Ayog and said it cannot replace the Planning Commisison. "In the higher education sector, the Union government wants to scrap the University Grants Commisison, which is a cause of concern as grants by UGC would he stopped.
"If this happens, it will have far reaching repercussion in the state," he said.
To impelement the National waterways scheme, the Centre's help was needed, the Chief Minister said.
Kerala also wanted the Centre's help to upgrade facilties at the Alapuzha National Institute of Virology and to set up a Bio safety lab at Kozhikode Medical college hospital in the backdrop of the outbreak of Nipah virus, which had claimed 17 lives in the northern kerala districts of Kozhikode and
Malappuram in May this year.
Though the state had sought a cyclone Ockhi rehabilitation type package, the Centre has not yet taken a favourable stand, Vijayan said.
To complete the Hill Highway project, 66.20 hectares of forest land in nine districts was needed. Permission of the Environment ministery was needed for construction in forest land in Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod districts, he said. Vijayan alleged that in some matters, the Centre was directly taking certain initiatives bypassing the state, which was against the federal principles.
He said there had been no favourable response so far from he Centre on financial assistance sought for a Rs 483 crore rehabiliation package for Endosulfan victims.
Vijayan also said the government has decided to withdraw the Kannur International airport project from 'UDAN', the centre's Regional airport development and Regional connectivity scheme, as it would 'adversely' affect revenue and development.
