New Gov in Kerala State to expedite Vizhinjam Port works

Thiruvananthapuram: The development of Vizhinjam port, near here, into an international container trans-shipment terminal is high on the agenda of the newly sworn-in Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in Kerala.

The Government would take immediate steps to get political clearance for the project from the Centre and the work was expected to begin within the next six months, Mr Vijayakumar, Minister for Ports, said here on Sunday.

He also said that in case the present proposal by a consortium to take up the work did not materialise, the Government would look at alternatives to get the project going.

He said the Government would initiate steps to start work on the other ports in the State awaiting development.

The Alappuzha port was planned to be turned into a tourist port, while Beypore and Azhikkal ports would be developed as commercial ports, the Minister said.

Mr Vijayakumar, who is also the Minister for Law, said the Government proposed to set up a Law Commission to reform the laws enacted by the State.

The commission would take a comprehensive look at the existing laws and recommend amendments wherever necessary.

It would also identify the laws that had become redundant. Besides, a mechanism would be evolved to monitor the work of the government pleaders.

The Law Department would take steps to create a legal data bank.

The idea was to compile all the laws to make them available to lawyers, judicial officers and the public, the Minister said.