Kerala, long neglected in the central scheme of things, is on the verge of losing out two major projects that were granted to it in the Railway budget.
Surprisingly, Indian Railways is threatening to withdraw unilaterally from the Cherthala wagon factory project.
Rail authorities have also raised objections with regard to the Kanjikode rail coach project, that was launched recently with great fanfare.
“The Railways currently finds its financial position not feasible to carry out the project in Cherthala. We have informed the state government of our reservations, but this does not mean we would set up the factory elsewhere,” a top official said.
On the prestigious Kanjikode rail coach factory, for which a joint survey has begun, a difference of opinion has cropped up over a 22 acre land, out of the total 230 acre that was handed over to theRailways by the state government.
“During the joint demarcation of boundaries on May 22, we’ve found 22 acres formed part of a canal which has water flow for six months a year.
Water body is a state subject and we don’t want to infringe on a natural resource over which everyone has a right,” the official said.
He, however, added that a final decision would be taken by the Southern Railway and the Railway Board.
The Union ministers from the state are apparently taken aback by the sudden about-turn of the Railways, and plan to protest against the “unilateral” act.
“We’ll take up the matter before the Railway convention committee and the Railway ministry. All Union ministers from the state should come together on the issue,” Union minister K C Venugopal told Deccan Chronicle.