THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state Assembly on Thursday passed the Kerala Appropriation (No.40) Bill, 2017 and the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 as reported by the Subject Committee.Replying to the discussion on Kerala Appropriation Bill, Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said there was a trend of reducing capital expenditure.
On P C George ‘s demand for more funds to construct village roads and the call from Mons Joseph for more potable water projects in the rural areas, Isaac said the government will consider KIIFB funding for such projects. But in certain projects, sharing of project cost by local bodies and other agencies was necessary. Regarding the KWA projects not being completed on time, he said it was not so much the shortage of funds as the current availability of human resources and technical expertise.Referring to the High Court verdict in the SNC Lavalin case , Isaac said unnecessary controversies had seriously affected new projects from being taken up.
A Pradeep Kumar (CPM) said a case should be registered against Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala for producing a forged document before reporters to sully Health Minister K K Shylaja’s image.If the UDF members had the slightest shame they should apologise to the Health Minister before ending their fast. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the House the High Court Division Bench had removed the Single Bench remarks against K K Shylaja.
