Kerala submits schemes to PC for approval

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has submitted schemes worth Rs 40,422 crore to the Planning Commission for approval for the 11th Five Year Plan.

The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, while replying to questions in the State Assembly said that the Government expected to receive grants to the tune of Rs 3,175.65 crore and loans of Rs 7,529.87 crore from the Centre for the implementation of the Plan.

The Plan allocation for foreign-aided projects is Rs 4,861 crore. In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said that the loopholes in the draft Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) notification issued by the Centre had to be plugged to prevent the exploitation of coastal area resources.

The State Government is of the firm view that there should not be any provision in CMZ that would lead to marginalisation of the fishing community or those associated with the sea, coast, their livelihood and employment. The draft notification contains enough loopholes that will help investors in the tourism and construction sectors exploit the coastal areas and the resources.

He noted that the fishing community and the representatives of trade unions had already raised their concerns over the provisions in the draft CMZ and the State Government, in turn, conveyed them to the Centre on June 26 this year. The Department of Science and Technology was coordinating the activities of the various departments in this regard, he added.

The Chief Minister informed the House that as per CRZ III rules, construction activities, including houses for fishermen, could not be taken up within 200 metres from the high-tide line. This was causing problems to the fishing community and the State had asked the Centre to revise the rules, he said.

The Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr C. Divakaran, said in reply to a question that there were 70,25,874 ration card holders in the State, comprising 14,90,444 BPL card holders and 49,43,241 APL card holders. The Government is taking steps to issue new ration cards, he said.