THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala submitted a detailed seven-point memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the Centre to have a favourable approach towards the state’s various demands.
The state requires 7.23 lakh tonnes of foodgrain to be allocated so that it can provide 5 kg each of foodgrain to families not in the priority list. At present, the supply is only 3.99 lakh tonnes.
When the Food Security Act 2013 came into being, the state’s quota of foodgrain came down drastically. Before the law was implemented, Kerala had a quota of 16 lakh tonnes, which came down to 14.25 lakh tonnes. Presently, the Centre is allocating ration quota for Antyodya Annayojana which comes under the priority category.
However the 45 lakh families of the state who are receiving ration are out of the priority category and are getting only 33,384 tonnes of foodgrain.
The 2008-09 rail budget had mentioned the Kanjikode rail factory will be opened and Kerala supported this totally. As much as 239 acres was provided by state government in 2012 and the foundation stone was laid. When the state government wanted to speed up the project, news came Centre was to drop the project. For making aluminium coaches, a new factory is to be opened. The state wants this factory to come up in Palakkad.
The Railway board had given permission in 1997-98 for the Angamali- Sabari railway line for the convenience of pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala. However, the Railway later insisted the state should bear half the cost. The state is seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention as Sabarimala is a national pilgrimage centre.
According to the Kasturirangan report, the notification of Environment Ministry states 9993.7 sq km under 123 villages in the state fall under the environmentally sensitive area. Kerala wants only reserve forests, protected forests and heritage monuments to be brought under the environmentally sensitive areas. The geo coordinated map prepared by the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Center says 8,656 sq km under 92 villages comes under ESA. The all-party delegation requested the Centre to release a final notification based on this data.
The delegation requested a special team be sent to the state to assess monsoon-related damages. As many as 965 villages are affected and around 30,000 people are in relief camps in the monsoon fury. 350 houses were totally destroyed and around 9,000 houses were partially damaged. 90 people lost their lives. The delegation also sought immediate financial support.
Central government has decided to completely transfer the shares of the Public sector undertaking Hindustan News Print in Velloor. If the Centre cannot sustain this factory in the public sector, the state government is ready to acquire it. The delegation requested Modi to direct the ministry concerned to allow the state to take over the unit.
PM has disappointed state, says Pinarayi
T’Puram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has disappointed the state of Kerala after the all-party delegation met him on Thursday. Pinarayi, while speaking to reporters, said the PM has rejected the state’s demand for reinstatement of ration quota which the state has been continuously requesting. The Prime Minister informed the state delegation that the Central government can provide ration only according to the food security act. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala who was also a part of the delegation said the Centre had taken a dismissive attitude towards the delegation.
Finally PMO gives appointment to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on July 19
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviews river cleaning work
State govt wishes to work in tandem with Centre, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan
When capital gains grip, interests of journalism weakens: Chief Minister Vijayan Pinarayi
Extremist elements from outside the campus behind Abhimanyu's murder: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan