Kerala’s annual plan to battle inflation

Rs 11,030-cr annual plan of Kerala 2011-12 has made a special anti-inflationary provision.

Considering the soaring price of essential items,the Rs 11,030-crore annual plan of Kerala for 2011-12 has made a special provision of Rs 80 crore for market-intervention schemes to hold the open market prices by augmenting supply of basic goods through state support.

The plan,approved by the state cabinet today,identified IT,Infrastructure and Tourism as vital areas for development,Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters.

As usual,due emphasis had been given for education,health and social security measures in the plan.

Story continues below this ad

The Vizhinjam Deep Water Container terminal near here and Kannur airport in north Kerala had been identified as two major infrastructure projects to be taken up during the year.

Asked about the row sparked by his statement that ‘big sharks’ would not be allowed to hijack the Kannur airport,Achuthanandan said what he meant was that no one would be allowed to monopolise the project.

“There would be business groups who want to gain control of the aiport. My point was that no one should be allowed to monopolise such a major project”,he said.

The head of a leading hospitality group recently resented Achuthanandan’s comment on the issue holding that such statements did not augur well for the development of the state.