Chandy denies allegations against Emerging Kerala meet

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday made it clear that the government will not go back on conducting ‘Emerging Kerala’ business summit to be held in Kochi.

 The controversies and allegations raised by some people on the summit are totally baseless, he added.

 Addressing a meeting after inaugurating the Congress party office at Kovoor near here, Chandy said that the government would not step back from the initiative because of th ese baseless allegations.

 “The main reason for the backwardness of the state in the matter of development is this kind of attitude.

 If the matter they raise is relevant, government will consider it.

 If it is not, the government will convince them,” added Oommen Chandy.

 LDF convener Vaikom Vis wan on Friday alleged that Emerging Kerala was yet another exercise on the model of GIM organised by the previous UDF Government.

 “The government is committed to increase the pace of economic development through investment promotion.

 ‘Emerging Kerala’ initiative is aimed to promote investment and thereby provide more job opportunities for the youth, said Chandy.

 Earlier, we could not utilise the opportunities and if we can foster the opportunities our youth can stop going abroad in search of jobs,” he added.

 The Government’s attention is on developing the infrastructure, ensuring industrial growth and thereby the overall socio-economic development of the state.

 The state has been putting thrust on the development of infrastructure including roads, ports, transshipment terminal and related natural gas infrastructure for end use by power, fertiliser, industrial and other sectors.

 Speaking at a function after handing over P V Sami Memorial Industrial and Sociocultural Award to NRI businessman C K Menon here, chief minister admitted that tanker lorries passing through the state are posing great threat nowadays.

 “Around 40,000 tankers are running per day in the state.

 We can lessen the accidents by 40 percent by realising the coastal navigation project proposed by Prime Minister’s advisor Sam Pitroda in his 10 Business Plans for Kerala,” said Chandy.