Thiruvananthapuram, Tuesday 16 June 2009: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan put the onus on new MPs and Union Ministers from the State to ensure that Kerala got its due from the Union government, especially in matters such as restoring the ration quota, the Kuttanad-Idukki packages and amendment of norms of Centrally sponsored programmes.

At a meeting of the MPs on the eve of the budget session of Parliament here, Achuthanandan said the steep cut in the monthly ration rice quota from 1,13,420 tonnes to 17,056 tonnes in 2007 had triggered off a rise in prices and shortage of foodgrains that forced the State government to take on the burden of meeting the shortfall through rice procurement from neighbouring States.

Though the quota was temporarily increased by 19,000 tonnes, that was not enough to protect the public distribution system, he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted this point when he met presspersons soon after the meeting, and expressed the hope that the MPs would pressure the Centre to restore the quota.

The Chief Minister, pointing to certain shortcomings in the Kuttanad package, said a special allocation would be needed to make the package feasible. The Centre had failed to earmark funds for it after sanctioning it in principle, and had asked the State to submit separate proposals sector-wise incorporating them in the existing Central schemes.

He said one part of the Kuttanad package, aimed at improving paddy cultivation through construction of bunds along the backwaters to tackle floods, needed Rs.836 crore.

The Centre had not made any allocation for the Idukki package. The Rs.1,300-crore package could be made feasible only with a special allocation.

The Chief Minister wanted the MPs to pressure the Centre for a subsidy of Rs.15 a kg for coconut oil.
On railway development, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to take forward the proposal to set up a railway coach factory in Palakkad.

The Centre had earmarked funds for it in the previous railway budget and the State government had offered to acquire 900 acres (360 hectares) of land and give it free for the project. He touched up on the need to form a peninsular railway zone, besides approval for several other railway projects that were hanging fire.

He wanted the MPs to pressure the Centre to clear the Kochi metro-rail project. The proposals had been held up owing to objections from the Planning Commission. Besides, the Centre should extend financial assistance to the State’s efforts to rehabilitate those returning from the Gulf and other countries owing to the economic downturn.

He stressed the need to push for the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar and stepping up of Central investments in a variety of sectors, including infrastructure.