Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday brought out a Progress Report on the completion of the projects under the prestigious Seven Stream initiative, stating that a majority of the projects have been implemented.
However, he said that the high speed rail corridor project and zero landless project were those which could not be taken up.
With regard to the ambitious Kochi Metro Rail and Vizhinjam projects, he said that they were on the right track. On the Vizhinjam transshipment terminal, he said that the environment impact assessment study was over and the project would go ahead as planned.
On the Kochi Metro rail project, he said that the current impasse had arisen because of the insistence of DMRC that the prior approval of DMRC director board was necessary if the metro rail operator has to undertake any work outside Delhi.
With regard to the high speed rail corridor project, Chandy said that though the Centre had given its approval, land acquisition has become an impediment.
He said that the issues related to land acquisition will be sorted out soon.
On the government scheme to ensure land for everyone in the state, Chandy said: ‘’The list of landless people has been prepared and the government has started identifying lands for being provided to the landless,’’ he said.
The seven stream programme which was announced by the government on November 17, 2011, aimed at giving thrust to corruption-free and transparent administration, protection of environment and solid waste management, higher growth and creation of employment opportunities, improvement of basic infrastructure and health care and skill development.
Presenting the progress report, Chandy said a total of 664 projects were announced in seven streams of which 374 have been fully implemented.
He said that out of the 27 initiatives planned in corruption-free and transparent administration stream, 17 have been fully implemented and nine were progressing.
Right to Services Bill and IDEAS were implemented in all the departments of the Secretariat to track the movement of files.
With regard to projects related to environmental protection and effective garbage disposal, of the 33 projects which were announced 12 have been implemented and 15 were nearing completion.
However, the Chief Minister evaded questions with respect to the waste treatment facilities in the capital city.
Chandy said that Emerging Kerala, which was one of the programmes in the higher growth and creation of employment opportunities stream, was a great success. A total of 110 projects were announced at the Emerging Kerala summit of which 72 projects were already underway.
Eighty-seven of the 193 projects announced under the basic infrastructure improvement programme have been completed.
The free distribution of generic medicines which has commenced is a milestone in the state’s health sector, he said, adding that 25 projects for providing better medical facilities have been completed. Chandy said that there the state has made major strides in the IT sector with Technopark and Infopark witnessing major developments. Out of the 35 projects included in the IT stream, 26 have been completed and only eight projects were to be completed.
In the development of human resources, Chandy said that the opening of the Malayalam university was another feather in the cap.