Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran has lashed out at the Centre for bypassing the State and taking arbitrary decisions on the projects being funded by it.
He did not mince words on the Centre’s decision to hand over implementation of the ₹69.47-crore Sree Narayana Guru Spiritual Tourism circuit to the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), ignoring the State’s demand. Mr. Surendran, who was the chief guest at the function to lay the foundation stone for the circuit, said the State had been bypassed although the detailed project report was prepared by Kerala Tourism.
Centre-State relations
“Such arbitrary decisions will affect Centre-State relations. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had pointed it out in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr. Surendran said.
The Minister said attempts were made recently by some vested interests to keep the State in the dark. The State had taken steps for creating the requisite facilities at Sivagiri and Chempazhanthy and was always in touch with the Madhom.
The Minister expressed surprise at Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust president Swami Vishudhananda not acknowledging the contributions of the State government in his presidential address. “It seems Swamiji was afraid,” he said.
Responding to the Minister’s comment, treasurer of the trust Swami Saradananda denied the allegations and said that the trust wanted the ITDC to execute the works. “We informed the Centre about it. There was no conspiracy,” he said.
