BJP MP V. Muraleedharan has cautioned the State government against politicising post-flood reconstruction activities and urged to reconsider its stance on the Kasturirangan Committee report in the wake of the flood.
Addressing a Meet-the-Press programme on ‘Post flood Kerala’ organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club here on Monday, Mr. Muraleedharan said that the CPI(M) had earlier politicised government initiatives to its advantage, but it should not recur in the case of the reconstruction activities.
“Decisions should be transparent and a panel comprising secretaries and technocrats should be formed for the rebuilding activities. Since the crisis has evoked positive response from different parts of the world, Ministers need not go on foreign jaunts for resource mobilisation. There is no harm in securing international assistance, but the Ministers need not go in appeal for that,” he said.
“The National Green Tribunal order imposing curbs on construction in eco-sensitive areas should be used to the advantage of the State. The Kasturirangan committee report should not be diluted for political gains. A political consensus should be evolved in this score,” he said.
“An expert panel should probe whether there were any lapses in dam management and on detecting any flaw, the government should take corrective measures to avoid such flaws in future. The disaster preparedness of the State still is far from satisfactory, it should be stepped up,” he said.
“The government should draw a broad outline for reconstruction in consultation with all sections, mainly experts,” he said.
Mr. Muraleedharan welcomed a proposal to restrict the flow of pilgrims to Sabarimala. “It should be regulated and spread evenly as in the case of Tirupati and other places of worship,” he said.
