more-in Protection of environment should get the highest priority in all sectors when rebuilding activities are taken up in flood-ravaged Kerala, Finance Minister T.M.Thomas Isaac has said. He was speaking at the valedictory function of a day-long workshop on ‘Building of a New post-flood Kerala,’ organised by the Kerala Gazzeted Officers’ Association here on Sunday. “Should rebuilding of a house which was destroyed in landslides be carried out in the same location? Obviously, we have to find a safer location. In every rebuilding activity that we take up, we need to think how we can carry it out in an environment-friendly manner,” he said. Mr.Isaac said that efforts need to be made to sustain the spirit of volunteerism and unity seen during the floods, as the State moves towards rebuilding. “We always thought that the majority are alienated and cynical. But, in such a particular situation, a large number of people sacrificed everything and came out to help each other. ,” he said. He said that the traditional centralised methods might not fetch the desired results in the expected time. The rebuilding plan needs to be blended into the existing district plans, based on which people’s representatives, local bodies and the people can work together, with just monitoring being a centralised activity. “It is impossible to carry out the rebuilding activity effectively if the Central Government sticks to its norm of limiting the borrowing limit to 3% of the Gross State Domestic Product. It is a political issue. There is nothing sacred about that limit. It can be relaxed. We can also look at funding through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board and crowd funding at the local level too,” he said.

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