Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan indirectly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday for privatising Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) while sharing a stage. The Prime Minister inaugurated the development projects at the Cochin Refinery. Pinarayi said that industrial development is not only about attracting private investment but also about empowering the public sector and modernizing the traditional sector. The CM said that the government has been making efforts to create industrial growth in Kerala for the last four and a half years.
In the words of Kerala Chief Minister: “For the last four and a half years, the State Government has been making efforts to promote industrial growth in Kerala. Not only attracting private investment but also creating industrial growth. It is made possible by strengthening the public sector and modernizing the traditional sector. In line with this vision, new units of BPCL’s Kochi Refinery are being commissioned. These units can use the propylene produced by refineries to produce petrol chemicals for paints and water purification chemicals. It is possible to reduce imports in this sector and thus make a profit in terms of foreign exchange.”
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While Inaugurating Cochin Water Metro project chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said fast and safe transportation is a must for any modern society. “It will lay the foundation for industrial growth. Kerala has a large network of inland water bodies, making them passable will enable low cost and pollution-free public transport,” Pinarayi said. “As part of this vision, the waterway from Bekal in the north to Kovalam in the south will be activated.”
Pinarayi Vijayan also mentioned that tourism sector is one of the driving forces of the Kerala economy. “Kochi is on the map of world tourism. Kochi is of great importance as it is a cruise port connecting South Asia with North Africa and the Middle East. From 2017 to 2020, the number of cruise tourists visiting Kochi has increased by 42%,” the CM said. “Sagarika International Cruise Terminal has been set up at the Port of Kochi as part of its efforts to cater to the growing needs of international cruise passengers.”
“Today we are launching projects that will benefit the most important sectors such as industry, transportation, tourism and education. The State Government is ready to co-operate with the Central Government in such projects. Such comprehensive development activities have been going on in Kerala for the last four and a half years as part of the Nava Kerala Construction Project,” said Pinarayi Vijayan.
