The government has not elaborated on the projects and the share of private participation in it.
A people’s collective against the alleged lack of transparency in the projects to be presented during the Emerging Kerala initiative of the government will be held here from September 12 to 14.
Addressing a press conference, A. Vasu, chairperson, and Tushar Nirmal Sarathi, general convener of the programme, accused the government of not sharing the entire details of the projects to be showcased at the event. The government has not elaborated on the projects and the share of private participation in it. Transparency seems to be lacking, generating doubts whether the Emerging Kerala would be a repeat of the Global Investors Meet of the previous United Democratic Front government that had failed miserably, they said.
Mr. Vasu said that the government has agreed to open up nearly 26 sectors for private participation including certain key areas like retail, port, information technology, tourism, energy and health. He said that the move to legalise the reclamation of wetlands and allowing conversion of five per cent of plantations for tourism and cultivation of other crops were part of the larger agenda of plundering the natural resources for the benefit of private investors.
Representatives of the collective also accused the CPI (M) of remaining silent and not declaring their stance on the projects to be presented at the Emerging Kerala event. They also blamed that the government has completely sidelined the agriculture sector by not announcing even a single project as part of the initiative.
Emerging Kerala is planned as a biennial Global Connect, the first being 'Emerging Kerala 2012' scheduled to be held from September 12 to 14. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the event.
Keywords: transparency, Emerging Kerala,
