The Hindu Business Line : All-party meet soon on Vizhinjam project: CM

The Kerala Government will hold an all-party meeting to discuss the next course of action on the proposed international container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam, near here, in the wake of the Centre's refusal to approve the global tender cleared by the State Government for the project.

The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, told newspersons after a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the Centre had not specified the reasons for refusing the tender.

``There are several reports that some Central Ministers from Tamil Nadu are against the coming up of Vizhinjam as they are more eager to develop Colachal port, which is close to Vizhinjam. Other reports say that the tender had been refused as Chinese companies were in the consortium that won the bid. But the government is not aware why the Centre had not given clearance,'' Mr Achutanandan said.

Mr Achuthanandan said that the Prime Minister had assured him when they met in New Delhi recently that he would soon visit the State to lay the foundation stone for the project. He was in the dark about what happened later, he added.

The Cabinet also decided to hold a special Cabinet meeting on August 23 to take stock of the State's financial position. The Chief Minister noted that the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) Government had claimed that it had left surplus funds in the treasury. But, it did not talk about major debts left unpaid.

He pointed out that the State would have to seek immediate financial assistance from the Centre to tide over the crisis.

PLANNING BOARD REVAMP

The Chief Minister said it was decided to reconstitute the Planning Board. Mr P.V. Unnikrishnan, Mr K.N. Harilal, Mr Mridul Eapen, Mr C.P. Narayanan and Mr K. Ramachandran Nair will be the new members of the Board.

Mr Sushil Khanna, Mr K. K. Subramanium, Mr C.P. Chandrashekar, Mr K. K. George, Mr M.A. Umman and Mr Venketesh Athreya will be advisers to the board.

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Issac, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Diwakaran, Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas, Irrigation Minister N.K. Premachandran and Public Works Minister P.J. Joseph will also be members of the board.

Mr Achuthanandan also said the Sports Council would be reconstituted soon.

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