MPs to jointly push for central fin aid

Time of India

3 days ago

T'puram: The state will move forward with legislation to address the rising human-wildlife conflict, the state govt informed MPs at a high-level meeting convened by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday.
A draft bill is currently under consideration by the state's law department, it was revealed in the meeting.
The MPs' conference, held ahead of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, deliberated on a range of pressing issues concerning the state from disaster relief and infrastructure development to financial concerns and environmental conservation.
A key decision at the meeting was to take a united stand for the approval of central financial assistance based on the Post-Disaster Need Assessment submitted by the state.
The assessment seeks Rs 2,221.10cr for Meppadi in Wayanad district and Rs 98.10cr for Vilangad in Kozhikode, both severely affected by past natural calamities.
The MPs also agreed to jointly press the Centre to reinstate Section 13 of the Disaster Management Act, which was previously removed, and to seek urgent amendments to Section 11 of the Wildlife Protection Act. These changes would empower state govts to grant region-specific relaxations based on local needs and help secure central compensation for wildlife-related damages.
On railway development, the CM urged the MPs to follow up on the memorandum he had submitted directly to the Union Railways minister. Specific demands include approval for the Thalassery–Mysuru and Nilambur–Nanjangud rail lines, a new line from Kanhangad–Panathur–Kaniyur, advancement of the Angamaly–Erumeli–Sabarimala railway project, and sanctioning of third and fourth railway lines in the state. The CM also called for allocation of funds to extend the Kochi Metro from SN Junction to Tripunithura Metro station.
Vijayan underlined the need for coordinated intervention of MPs on financial matters. He flagged the reduction in Kerala's borrowing limit under the guarantee redemption fund, the Rs 965cr shortfall in IGST settlement, and the need to raise the borrowing ceiling to 3.5% of the state's GSDP. He urged the Centre to exempt loans taken by KIIFB and the state pension company from the borrowing cap and allow additional borrowing equivalent to the state's share in the Jal Jeevan Mission outside the current borrowing limit.
The meeting also discussed proposals to link the Global City component with the GIFT City (Global Industrial Finance and Trade City) initiative and to seek timely central support for completing connectivity infrastructure. The MPs agreed on the importance of securing viability gap funding for the establishment of logistics parks under the Kochi–Bengaluru industrial corridor.
Health-related demands raised at the meeting included the need to expedite the allotment of an AIIMS in Kerala, increase the premium under the Vay Vandana Yojana pension scheme and release the arrears due to the state under the National Health Mission.
There was also a demand to grant official health worker status to ASHAs, who form the backbone of the state's community health system.
Other crucial issues discussed included retaining the BrahMos missile production facility in Kerala, granting 'point of call' clearance to foreign airlines operating out of Kannur International Airport and the ongoing development of national highways across the state. The MPs also sought upgrades for the Kottapuram–Kozhikode stretch of National Waterway-3, declared as an extension of the national waterway, to meet national standards.