Finally "HH Antony" opens mouth for Vizhinjam

Antony assurance on Vizhinjam
Staff Reporter
Says Kerala should strive for aid from Rupee-Rouble Debt Fund
Asks State to take up issue of Russian funding with Shipping Ministry
Claims Kerala has the potential to lead the nation in maritime affairs
KOCHI : Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony has promised all help for the Vizhinjam port project and asked the Kerala Government to take up the issue of Russian funding with the Union Ministry of Shipping.
He was delivering the keynote address at a seminar on `Kerala- Emerging Maritime Issues and Challenges' organised at the Southern Naval Command here on Sunday.
Mr. Antony said he would help the State in securing funds for the project from the Rupee-Rouble Debt Fund. He ruled out any security threat to the Vizhinjam project.
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said that efforts were being made through the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Russian High Commission to secure funds for the project.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had, during his visit last year, expressed his willingness to use one million roubles from the fund for development schemes in India.
Major threats
Mr. Antony said Kerala had the resources and potential to lead the nation in maritime affairs. Maritime terrorism, drug trafficking and piracy were major threats. The Centre and States should cooperate to counter the challenges. The task of protecting and furthering India's interests was not that of the Indian Navy alone, he said. Mr. Antony said that more orders would be placed with the Cochin Shipyard if it completed the work on India's first aircraft carrier by 2012. On the need for treating port-based special economic zones with caution, he stressed the need for a public-peasant partnership.
"The solutions to Kerala's maritime challenges should have a positive impact on employment generation. They should lead to the socio-economic welfare of all sections of society. Sadly, the condition of the legendary shipbuilders of Beypore is pitiable. They have been reduced to making toys of the famous `uru.' Kerala should lead the nation in making use of its skilled craftsmen for modern shipbuilding." Mr. Antony lauded the efforts of the Navy in setting up a Chair for Maritime Studies in Calicut University.
Mr. Achuthanandan, who inaugurated the seminar, said that the maritime heritage of Kerala dated back to 573 B.C. when the Jews arrived here.
Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of Naval Staff, presented a paper on the `Geo-Strategic Importance of Kerala;' P. Paleri, former Director General of Indian Coast Guard, on `Kerala's role in maritime India.'