Edamon-Kochi power corridor by March next year, says official.

The Edamon-Kochi 400-kV high-capacity transmission corridor for sourcing power from Kudankulam nuclear power plant will be ready by March 31, 2018, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) Paul Antony has said.

He was delivering the inaugural address at the annual awards ceremony and inauguration of Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Kerala Management Association (KMA) here on Friday evening.

While not directly referring to agitations under way against development initiatives in various parts of the State, Mr. Antony said the government was open to hearing (divergent) views of members of the public.

“But the larger public good will be given priority. Efforts are on to improve the ease of doing business in Kerala. Emphasis will be given to accountability and promptness in completing projects,” he said.

Exhorting youth to become employment creators and not seekers of government jobs, Mr. Antony assured government help for start-up initiatives.

He added that a new software was on the anvil to help people get building approval online, without official intervention, in urban local bodies. This will help reign in rule violations, he said. The official added that the draft of the State’s new industrial policy was available on the government’s official website, and that stakeholders could air their views.

KMA president Mathew Urumbath said the management movement began in Kerala 60 years ago with the formation of the organisation. Deepak Vohra, special advisor to Prime Minister, Lesotho and Guinea-Bissau, gave the keynote address. Chairmen of the committees in charge of awards and the jubilee, Jibu Paul and Prasad K. Panicker were among those who spoke.

THE HINDU