Date:10/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/05/10/stories/2008051050702100.htm

Back Kerala urges Centre to implement Idukki package

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, May 9

The State Government has demanded that the Centre implement the agriculture package submitted by the agriculture scientist, Dr M.S. Swaminathan, for Idukki district in a time-bound manner.

Announcing this, the Chief Minister, Mr V. S. Achuthanandan, told newspersons here on Friday that the package aimed at overall development of the farm sector at large, and plantation sector in particular, was drawn up in response to a plea by the State Government in the context of the prevailing farm crisis and farmer suicides.

NO ACTION

The Centre had still not taken any decision on the Kuttanad package submitted about nine months back despite the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister lending their support. It is now learnt that the Union Water Resources Ministry was opposing the package implementation on technical grounds.

The Local Administration Department has directed the panchayats to increase the area under paddy cultivation. To begin with, each panchayat would start paddy cultivation in 10 acres and this would be increased in the coming years.

Local self-government institutions have been told to utilise the Rs 600 crore allocated for agriculture for raising paddy cultivation. Interest-free loans would be extended to farmers. Stringent action would be taken against reclamation of paddy fields, Mr Achuthanandan said.

IT SECTOR

The Chief Minister said that the Software Technology Parks of India director had informed him that software exports from the State, at Rs 1,200 crore during 2007-08, had registered 60 per cent rise as against that of the previous year. The exports amounted to Rs .452 crore during 2005-06 and Rs 750 crore in 2006-07.

Responding to another question, he said the drive to evict encroachers from revenue land would be revived after clearing the cases pending in various courts following the eviction drive in Munnar and other districts. Some District Collectors have been lax in taking action against encroachments, and they would be shifted to other posts.