By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : For long private capital and investors were pariah for the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), but now the Left government in Kerala has set a target of attracting Rs.250 billion ($6 billion) worth of private investments in the next three years.
“The government has failed to reach out to the masses on the performance since they took over the governance (May 2006) and this should be rectified. Land for industrial development activities would be acquired and the development of Malabar area (north Kerala) will be taken up,” said a party statement at the end of a three-day state executive committee meeting here Saturday.
The statement also said the government should takes measures to prevent the steep increase in land prices.
The CPI-M has called upon the Congress-led opposition to cooperate with the Left government for the speedy implementation of economic projects.
The leader of opposition Oomen Chandy said: “These decisions that has been arrived at their meeting can be taken by anyone, but the catch lies when it comes to implementation. Given their past history, the biggest stumbling block lies within their (own) party. As responsible opposition we will fully cooperate and never create hurdles for the development of the state.”
“Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan is sitting on 18 different applications for new SEZs which have been cleared by the Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem. Over the years their trump card is to blame others for their lapses,” Chandy told IANS.