The Hindu : Front Page : No Ordinance to control TDB

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Thursday, Nov 10, 2005

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No Ordinance to control TDB

Roy Mathew

Chief Minister and SNDP Yogam general secretary to meet in a day or two

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government has backed off from moves to impose Government control over the functioning of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

The Government beat a retreat following strong opposition from the SNDP Yogam and some Hindu organisations over the move to bring an Ordinance to keep the Board in check.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told presspersons after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that there would be no Ordinance. "The Government will not intervene in the internal affairs of the Board. It only wants the Board's functioning to be transparent."

The Chief Minister is slated to meet SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan in a day or two. The meeting could lead to a ceasefire between the Government and the Board as both had suffered damage. The Board had to suspend recruitments and the Government had to watch its pet proposals for the second phase of development of Sabarimala put on hold.

Mr. Natesan has agreed to withdraw his charges against Devaswom Minister K. C. Venugopal provided that the Government went back on its move to take up the development project on a build, operate and transfer basis. This suggests that the allegations of Mr. Natesan are in the form of a counter-charge, which he does not plan to press if the Government concedes his demands.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday came to the support of Mr. Venugopal stating that he had no complaints against the Minister. He was fully satisfied with the Minister's work. He telephoned Mr. Natesan and agreed to meet him because Mr. Natesan was raising allegations against a Minister, and as Chief Minister he had to give it a hearing.

Mr. Chandy was less strident at the Cabinet briefing than last time about the action to check corruption in the appointments to the Devaswom Board. "The matter would be looked into," he said.

He stressed that there was no confrontation between the Government and the Board. The Board itself had agreed to the Government suggestion to suspend the appointments. He added that the practical difficulties arising from suspension of appointments would have to be addressed.

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