Nayanar Urges Alternative Set Of Reforms
Kerala Chief Minister E K Nayanar yesterday called for formulating an alternative set of economic reforms which would be people-oriented and lead to overall development of the country.
In his address at the ten-day fourth industrial trade fair-Coimbatore, Intec 97, read in absentia as he was unable to attend due to indisposition, Nayanar said growth attained by any economy should be judged not by graphs but by living standards of the people.
Stating that he was not among those who welcomed the economic reforms in totality, he said the fact that the countrys economy was undergoing a sea change could not be ignored.
It is another question whether it is good or bad.
The Kerala Chief Minister said the southern states should work unitedly to get the southern gas grid project cleared by the Union government.
The southern states had made a joint effort earlier to get the grid project sanctioned but afterwards no headway had been made, he said, and added if the grid project was cleared, it would usher in an era of rapid industrialisation in the southern states.
Nayanar said free flow of electricity was important for industrial growth and the Centre should immediately clear all power projects pending with it for sanction.
Stating that a number of power projects in kerala are still awaiting central clearance, he said the states would have to make a joint effort to make the centre understand the importance of clearing power projects quickly.
Nayanar said such industrial fairs would lead to better cooperation with industries within and outside the country. In his absence, the fair was declared open by Coimbatore Corporation mayor and industrialist V Gopal- akrishnan. About 320 firms from the US, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore, are taking part in the fair.
Exhibiting mainly their machine tools, metallurgical plants, hydraulic, pneumatic and other equipment.