Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 23 Keralam will focus on attracting investments across key sectors and make major announcements on Oceanarium and International Maritime Museum on World Maritime Day, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference here after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Satheesan said World Maritime Day on September 24 would be celebrated on a large scale in Ernakulam.
He said work was progressing to realise the government’s vision of transforming Keralam into a port city.
“Systematic steps are being taken for this. A lot of investments are coming both within and outside the port. The models for the port city were discussed in detail at a recent round-table conference,” he said.
The CM explained that the government was focussing on several areas — the port city, aviation hub, MSMEs, semiconductors as part of future technologies, data centres, global capability centres, a special model for disaster management and so on, Satheesan said.
Large investments were coming from outside Kerala as well as from abroad in these sectors, he said.
The chief minister said more manufacturing parks would be established and facilities would be created for health science parks, parks for manufacturing healthcare equipment and dental equipment.
“Efforts should be made to improve economic activity. At the same time, we will also utilise the immense potential of the tourism sector,” he added.
On the Western Ghats’ Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) issue, Satheesan said the government had decided to submit a proposal to the Centre completely excluding inhabited areas and CHR (Cardamom Hill Reserve) regions.
The Environment Department would prepare a comprehensive map for this purpose, he said.
On complaints regarding delays in disbursing flood relief assistance in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts, Satheesan said the delay was not due to non-allocation of funds but because verification was yet to be completed.
“The money has been correctly allocated everywhere. Funds have been allocated to Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts and the money is in the accounts of the respective district collectors,” he said.
He said detailed verification was necessary as several ineligible people were making claims for large amounts.
“A detailed verification will be conducted under the leadership of the Revenue Department. The eligible people will be given the money. The amount sought by the district collectors has been allocated to their respective accounts,” Satheesan said.
More funds would be sanctioned if the districts sought additional amounts, he said, adding there had been no lapse on the part of the government.
“No eligible person will be denied assistance. Everyone whose house was inundated will definitely be given the money,” Satheesan added.
(PTI News)
