Works sanctioned by the 12th Finance Commission for developing inland waterways in the State will be completed in March, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told the Assembly on Tuesday.
In 2006-07, administrative sanction was given for Rs 52.25 crore. 120 works in all were started and 72 have been completed. During 2007-2010, administrative sanction was accorded for Rs 151.98 crore. Of the 127 works started, 37 were completed.
Of the 590 km of waterways in the State, 168 km are under the National Waterway-III. The rest, 422 km, are state waterways. Works were taken up on 92 km, and completed on 47.13 km, the Chief Minister said.
Development of the north-south waterway was the flagship project of the LDF Government in its first Budget. The ambitious project, which will bring relief to the overcrowded Kerala roads and smoothen cargo transport, has its problems.
“There are boundary disputes and disputes regarding Chinese fishing nets and encroachments. These have to be addressed,” the Chief Minister said.
“OFFICIALS TRAPPED MENON: “Rear Admiral (Retd) B R Menon, advisor to the State Government on inland waterways, had been trapped in a sex scandal by ‘officials,’ Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told the Assembly on Tuesday. “Officials trapped him. But the Kerala High Court ruled that he was innocent. He is back at work,” the Chief Minister said.
