CM: Budget has no plan to privatise mineral sand
T’puram: CM VD Satheesan rejected allegations that UDF govt was aiming to privatise the state’s mineral sand sector and asserted that the budget contained no such proposal and that the govt’s focus was on value addition and investment-led growth. During Wednesday’s post-budget discussion, Satheesan
By The Times of India
T’puram: CM VD Satheesan rejected allegations that UDF govt was aiming to privatise the state’s mineral sand sector and asserted that the budget contained no such proposal and that the govt’s focus was on value addition and investment-led growth.
During Wednesday’s post-budget discussion, Satheesan said the budget did not contain a single word on privatising mineral sand mining.Rejecting opposition’s policy U-turn allegations, he said the critical mineral corridor is a Centre-state joint venture that will process minerals and generate revenue rather than undertake fresh mining activities.
He said a consortium comprising Coal India, Kerala Minerals and Metals, Keltron, Travancore Titanium Products and National Federation of Tribal Development Cooperative will implement the project.
Govt aims to create value-added products and generate substantial revenue through the initiative, he added.In an apparent swipe at the opposition, Satheesan questioned who had granted permission for mineral sand extraction in Alappuzha and asked who was transporting minerals.
He said the opposition should not force him to disclose further details in the matter.Outlining UDF govt’s economic strategy, he said Kerala needs greater private investment across sectors and added that private participation should drive development.
He said southern economic corridor, envisaged in the budget, was intended to attract private capital and investments.Satheesan assured investors that bureaucratic hurdles would be removed and added that a project implementation protocol and a single-window clearance mechanism would be introduced to prevent delays. “No investor will return disappointed from Kerala,” he said.Satheesan said his govt would bolster state finances without imposing additional tax burdens and described the budget as one that would rewrite Kerala’s future.
He said students and youth were looking up to the govt with hope.Defending the budget, Satheesan said it fulfilled promises made to the people and addressed emerging demographic and economic challenges.
He reiterated state govt’s commitment to make PSUs financially viable and profitable, including KSEB, KSRTC and SupplyCo.Satheesan asserted that his govt would function independently and assured that party offices would not interfere in day-to-day administrative activities.
He added that no minister would carry files to a party office without the CM’s knowledge.Stay updated with the latest Thiruvananthapuram news.
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