Malayala Manorama editor Philip Mathew hands over to the chief minister, a vision document incorporating suggestions that had come up at the conclaveThiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the waterway from Kovalam to Kasaragod will be developed in three years. He said a company specially tasked with the development of the waterway, from the south to the northern end of the state, was floated in partnership with Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to ensure that the project does not get entangled in the slow working of government departments.
He was inaugurating a conclave organized as part of a series published by Malayala Manorama.
The chief minister expressed confidence that the development of waterways will change the face of the state. The project, essential for the development of the state, was not inhibited by monetary constraints. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIFBI) would provide the funding, he said.
The project would be implemented with equal focus on facilities for travel, cargo movement and tourism. Cargo movement of firms like Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML) will be routed through the waterway, the chief minister said, and pledged to link up ports from Vizhinjam in the southern end to Azheekal in the far north.
Minister Mathew T. Thomas said the chief minister and the government were determined to meet the targets set.
Malayala Manorama editor Philip Mathew handed over to the chief minister a vision document incorporating suggestions that had come up at the conclave. G. Vijayaraghavan was the moderator.
CM hails Manorama's role
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed Malayala Manorama for the efforts it was making to ensure the materialization of the Kovalam-Kasaragod waterway.
He said the media was currently inclined to celebrate controversies. Standing apart from that, the top newspaper provided creative support by initiating a discussion on the most important project of the state. This was a silver line, he said.
He expressed confidence that waterway development would be a reality if everyone stood united to support the project.
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