KIIFB funds to be allotted for major infra projects: A C Moideen

KOCHI: KIIFB funds will be allotted for the major infrastructural projects in Thrissur like flyovers and the sports complex in Lalur, industries minister A.C. Moideen has said. He was speaking to media persons in Thrissur on the occasion of the first anniversary of the LDF government. Minister said that the government had not dropped the Athirapally hydel project and effort was on to trying and build a consensus to carry forward the project. The Minister further said that the government would soon disburse the pending amount of Rs 71 crore to the farmers for the procurement of paddy. Finance department had held a discussion to cooperate with the cooperative banks to address the issue, he added.

To check the increasing prices of cement, he said that the government had decided to increase the production of Malabar cement. "The present market share is 6.8,and it will be increased to 26 percent to rein in the upward trend in the price of cement in Kerala," he noted. On the Paliyekkara Toll issue the minister said that the state government had certain limitations and NHAI needed to take action on the issue of heavy rush and vehicles getting held up in the toll plaza.

"The toll company says that there were nine signals on the Mannuthy-Angamali highway above those mentioned in the DPR and that has led to the increase in the number of vehicles reaching the toll gate at a time. However, we will take up the matter with NHAI," he said. The minister did not give any assurance on implementing the verbal order of the district administration to the toll company two weeks ago to release vehicles during the time of rush without collecting toll and to maintain the number of vehicles in each lane in waiting to be not more than five.