Centre should bestow special attention
on Kerala’s unique issues: P J Joseph

The Government of India should pay special attention to Kerala’s unique developmental issues and sanction projects to uplift the people, according to P J Joseph, chairman of Kerala Congress as well as Gandhiji Study Centre.

He made this plea at a “Walk-the-Talk” programme with John Mary for a television channel the other day, on completion of his road show from Mumbai to Kanyakumari, campaigning for a high-speed rail-road corridor from Mumbai to Kanyakumari covering the States of Maharashtra, Goa, Karntaka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala. We should live up to the concept of a “strong Centre and satisfied States” .

Food security should be ensured for Kerala. Large areas of paddy fields are lying uncultivated. There is shortage of food materials. Prices of good grains are skyrocketing. Steps should be taken for self-sufficiency in food materials. Kerala is lacking in rice, milk, eggs, vegetables etc. Let us not think that everything can be purchased from elsewhere. Forty per cent of the people do not have nutritious food, a large number of people do not have houses of their own.

Rivers are withering away, streams and other water sources are drying up. Large-scale sand-mining has caused depletion of the water table and water storage.

He said the mind-block about high-speed trains should be removed. Japan introduced bullet trains in 1964. Most of the European countries, Korea, China and others have high-speed trains.

Joseph recalled that his train journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur 25 years ago. The speed remains almost the same even now. There may be one and a half hours’ reduction in the journey time now.

The Government of India has already sanctioned Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Kolkata high-speed freight corridors. The concept has already been introduced in the country. Therefore, we must have the facility through the west coast as well.


Joseph said when he was PWD Minister in the E K Nayanar Government, the Union Government was approached for four-laning of the National Highways in Kerala and inclusion of Kerala stretches in the Golden Quadrilateral.

Later RITES was entrusted with the task of preparing a strategic project for road development of 2,800 kms. The Planning Board, and the Finance Department had objected to the proposal. But Nayanar stood firm and the project was submitted to the Centre. Ultimately, the Rs 1,600 crore KSTP project came into being with World Bank assistance. The work should have been completed in 2005. If Pati-Bel Company, which undertook the work was paid Rs 17 crore earlier, the present expenditure of could have been saved by Rs 200 crore. Moreover, Pati Bel could not take up the rest of the work on time. Consequently, escalation of expenditure would cause a further loss of Rs 500 crore.

Joseph maintained that the power of the Finance Department to veto projects of various departments should be taken away. Once the amount is included in the budget, the respective departments should be allowed to spend the money. Saving the allotted money without spending would hit the developmental projects adversely. That is any way bad financial practice.

The practice prevailing in various States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu etc should be followed in Kerala. The Chief Minister should seriously look into the issue.

Regarding the Golden Quadrilateral, Joseph asked why the mega project stopped at Chennai, after Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Kolkata and Kolkata-Chennai stretches were completed.

Now with regard to rail developments, a comparative study should be made. As per populatation figures, Kerala should get at least 3000 km of railway line. Equality can be claimed to some extent after adding at least 1,000 km of double line.

With the operationalisation of LNG terminal, there would be daily transportation of 2000 50-60 tonne trucks from Mangalore, Salem etc to Kochi. There should be a separate road for taking care of the huge volume of high-voltage traffic.

Joseph pointed out that there would be no problem of securing funds for the high-speed rail-road corridor.

Joseph, who is the pioneer in introducing organic farming in Kerala, undertakes bio farming in 10-15 acres. He rears 60 cows. Through the efforts of Gandhiji Study Centre, 20,000 families of farmers have converted themselves into organic farming in Idukki .district. Kerala should be transformed into an organic farming State. It is possible to infuse food security, increase milk production and ensure nutritious food for all. Each family should have a cow, which would be useful for organic farming operations.

Gandhiji Study Centre has adopted Mullankolli and Aralam villages. The attempt is to double the income of the households within a period of three years.

Joseph is not worried about his being out of the Cabinet. This is a blessing in disguise. He is now able to concentrate his attention on organic farming, development and positive culture.