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Pathiramanal: Thomas refutes allegation

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 15. The Minister for Fisheries and Tourism, K. V. Thomas, refuted allegations regarding the move to lease out the Pathiramanal Island for tourism development.

Replying to the demands for grants for Tourism and Fisheries, the Minister said that it was the previous Government, which had decided, in principle, to give the land on lease to the Oberoi Group of Hotels. The land value and lease rent had also been worked out.

Mr. Thomas denied that there was any corruption in the award of contracts for tourism promotion to a multimedia company and an advertising agency.

They were awarded the contracts first by the previous Government. The advertisement and other contracts given to them after the present Government came to power totalled only Rs. 34.4 lakhs.

He announced that a proposal to build a 590-k.m.-long fisheries highway connecting fishing harbours and fishlanding centres from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod was under construction. The Harbour Engineering Department was doing the preliminary studies for the highway costing Rs. 500 crores.

The funds for the first stage from Alappuzha to Munambam, Rs. 60 crores, could be obtained from the Central Government. The second stage would cover the Azhikode-Chettuva-Ponnani sector.

He said that the Government proposed to set up an aquapark.

A scheme for seasonal aquaculture in the paddy fields of Kuttanad would be started this year. Rs. 60 lakhs had been allocated for this. Work had started on fisheries harbours at Muthalappozhi, Kayamkulam and Ponnani.

He said that the Government had released Rs. 2 crores for the payment of a lumpsum grant to the children of fishermen. The payments were in arrears for the past three years.

After the Minister's reply, the House passed the demands totalling Rs. 102.96 crores.

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