Thiruvananthapuram (PII): Kerala on Friday wanted the Centre to take steps to implement the M S Swaminathan commission reports for the growth of agriculture in Kuttanad and Idukki. The Centre has not taken any decision on the report and main opposition to the recommendations have come from Union Water Resources Ministry, Achuthanandan said.

Addressing a press meet here,Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said a rs 1840 crore package for a comprehensive development of Kuttanad,considered to be rice bowl of Kerala, prepared by eminent agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan, had been submitted to the Centre nine months ago.

Kuttanad is in Alapuzha district.

The commission, which also studied the distressed farm sector in Indukki, has submitted its report with recommendations for improvement of agriculture, mainly cash crops,in the district yesterday, he said and wanted the Centre to take urgent steps to implement both the reports.

Terming as 'joke' the UDF Opposition charge that two-year rule of LDF government was a total failure, Achuthanandan claimed that IT sector in the state had made 'tremendous' growth with total software exports reaching Rs.1200 crore in 2007-08, registering a 60 per cent growth compared to software exports of Rs.750 crore in 2006-07.