Kerala CM meets PM

Oommen Chandy, the first Congress Chief Minister to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today sought his intervention to solve the issues in Kerala related to implementation of green reports to protect ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.
Chandy, who met the Prime Minister at his office, said he expressed concern over media reports that the NDA government would take a final decision soon on whether Madhav Gadgil Committee report or Kasturirangan panel report should be implemented to protect the biodiversity-rich hills.
The Kerala Chief Minister is totally against implementation of Gadgil panel report as he fears it would hit the livelihood of the millions of people living on the hills. He demanded that the affected states should be consulted before taking a final decision on the issue.

"The Prime Minister assured me that the Centre will hear the views of the states concerned before taking a final decision on the matter," Chandy told reporters here.
The Kasturirangan panel report is a diluted version of the Gadgil Committee report. The two reports were prepared during the UPA rule. However, Kerala has sought further dilution of the Kasturiran panel report.
The Chief Minister also sought the Prime Minister's intervention to save the Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), Kochi.

He said the previous UPA government had approved a Rs 550 crore package but it could not be delivered because of the Model Code of Conduct.

"I requested the Prime Minister to speed up all official formalities to provide that money for the revival of the FACT. Modi said he will give a special attention to this demand," Chandy said.
He said a memorandum in this regard was submitted to Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar.
The Chief Minister said since the new government has taken over only a few days ago, more demands were not made before the Prime Minister.
Detailed meetings with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues will be held very soon to press for Centre's assistance to solve developmental problems being faced by Kerala, Chandy added.