LDF stages walkout in assembly over KSRTC crisis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition today staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly accusing the state government of failing to tackle the crisis gripping the Kerala Road Transport Corporation.

The CPI(M)-led LDF opposition, led by CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan, walked out of the House after Deputy Speaker N Sakthan rejected the notice for adjournment on the issue.

Responding to the notice given by former industries minister Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M), Transport Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan said the government approached the issue with seriousness and had already taken measures to overcome the problems plaguing the KSRTC, the biggest public utility in the state.

Pending salary of the employees had been disbursed and some long-term measures to resolve the financial crisis in the state-run company were also under consideration, Radhakrishnan said.

There was a wide mismatch between the revenue and expenditure in the operations of KSRTC. The government aimed at increasing the daily collection of the corporation from Rs 5.5 crore to Rs 7.5 crore, the minister said.

Seeking leave for the motion, Kareem said the government had not approached the issue with seriousness forgetting that KSRTC was the biggest public utility in the state on which people depend heavily for travelling.

Leading his colleagues out, Achuthanandan said the financial aid sanctioned by the government was too meagre.