Government plans more stringent abkari policy

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Wednesday that a decision on accepting the resignation of Government Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan would be taken in consultation with Kerala Congress (M) Chairman K. M. Mani.

The Chief Minister said that Mr. Mani wanted the Chief Minister to be in charge of the Finance portfolio which was the default position.

Denying reports that Mr. Mani was under pressure to resign, Mr. Chandy said that the Finance Minister had resigned voluntarily to uphold high principles. “None of us pressed him to resign.”

He said that the government proposed to be more stringent in respect of abkari policy. Corruption would not be countenanced. But none would be allowed to demoralise government by raising mere allegations. He discounted allegations being raised by Biju Ramesh against Excise Minister K. Babu.

The Chief Minister announced that the Cabinet had cleared revised estimate of Rs. 2024 crore for extension of Kochi Metro Rail from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Kakkanad. The Central share has been fixed as 20 per cent and clearance from the Centre would be sought for that.

The Cabinet had also cleared an integrated project for fast and secure water transport in Kochi prepared by Kochi Metro Rail Corporation. The project would be submitted to the Centre for getting funding from Germany.

He said that 1.56 acres in Technopark area (Third phase) would be given on lease to Indian Institute of Science Education and Research for setting up an incubation centre.

He said that the a meeting with Post Master General had been scheduled for tomorrow in view of delay in distribution of welfare pensions through post offices. The Government had released Rs. 758.61 crore in installments towards payment of pension arrears for six months. However, Rs. 705 crore was yet to reach the beneficiaries. The next installment will be withheld pending resolution of the issue.