Keralam to take steps to tap Central projects: V.D. Satheesan

The Keralam government is embarking on a major initiative to tap Central government projects through a planned and sustained approach, according to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

An examination of Central projects has showed that State government departments have not claimed even 25% of the projects for which the State is eligible, he said.

At the Centre, the shift from the Planning Commission to the NITI Aayog has introduced a project-oriented approach he said. After the UDF government came to power, the State Planning Board was asked to examine the projects. The State intends to claim its due share of the projects by preparing detailed project reports (DPR) and putting the necessary pressure on the Centre, he said.

The Chief Minister’s remarks came in response to questions regarding last week’s Cabinet decision to appoint IUML leader M.K. Muneer as chairperson of the Administrative Reforms Commission and Forward Bloc leader G. Devarajan as the government’s representative in New Delhi.

It may be recalled that the UDF government’s proposal to transform the State Planning Board into a ‘think tank’ had sparked a row, with the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) expressing a concern that the board will share the fate of the Union Planning Commission.