Kerala to tap major IT projects

With a view to increasing jobs, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandan on Thursday hinted the government was considering setting up several major IT infrastructure projects for the state.

"Some big projects are before the government and we are studying them," Achutanandan said without divulging further details about the projects.

The government wants to ensure employment opportunities to the state's youth through major projects, he added.

When it was pointed out that West Bengal's Left government was wooing the Dubai Internet City, promoters of the Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) smart city project, he said, "Let it go to Bengal."

The LDF had voiced its opinion against the project when it was in the opposition and its stance remains unchanged he said.

On being asked he said, "Our state would not follow suit with Congress-ruled state governments in reducing sales tax on petrol and diesel.