The Hindu Business Line : No confusion on ADB loan: Achuthanandan

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No confusion on ADB loan: Achuthanandan

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`Detractors spreading falsehood'

SEZs would enjoy concessions such as exemption from the levy of civic taxes and electricity tax and the State would supply them with basic requirements such as water and electricity.

Mr V.S. Achuthanandan

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Thiruvananthapuram March 5 The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, has lashed out against his detractors for spreading falsehood on `perceived differences' in the State Cabinet over availing itself of an Asian Development Bank (ADB) for local bodies.

The campaign was aimed at creating needless confusion in the minds of the people, the Chief Minister said in reply to a submission in the State Assembly on Monday. These reports are as baseless as they are contrary to facts, he added.

The Cabinet had, on March 2, ratified the agreement signed between ADB and the State Government for obtaining Rs 994 crore in loan assistance to finance sustainable development projects in five local bodies.

11 SEZS SANCTIONED

Eleven Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been sanctioned to the State, the Chief Minister informed the House. Among the promoters are public sector facilitators such as Technopark, the Cochin Port Trust and the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation.

The SEZ would enjoy concessions such as exemption from the levy of civic taxes and electricity tax. Besides, the State would supply them with basic requirements such as water and electricity.

The Centre has agreed in-principle to set up an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in the State. The institute would come up in Thiruvananthapuram, the Chief Minister said, adding that the District Collector and the Secretary, Higher Education, had been asked to identify a suitable land.

The Centre had also sanctioned Rs 100 crore for developing the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and the Government was in the process of preparing a detailed development plan.

Waterway works

The Chief Minister informed the House that the Kollam-Kottapuram waterway would be commissioned by mid-2008. Revenue officials have been taking various steps to expedite work on the project.

Proceedings have been initiated for acquiring 507 acres for setting up a `Techno-City' in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram city. A master plan was being prepared under which rehabilitation of displaced families would be taken up as a fast-track scheme.

The project is expected to provide direct employment to one lakh people and indirect employment to another three lakh.

Mobile `mavelis'

The Civil Supplies Corporation intends to introduce 10 mobile `Maveli' fair price stores with a view to arresting the price spiral, said the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr C. Divakaran.

Replying to questions, the Minister said that 16 such stores had been opened in the last two months.

The State Government had sanctioned Rs 30 crore for market intervention schemes efforts, of which Rs 20 crore had already been spent. A sum of Rs 37 crore would be further sanctioned for the purpose.

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