No govt-Keltron pact yet; HC directive not a setback: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: The high court directive on the Safe Kerala project should not be seen as a setback to the government, said transport minister Antony Raju on Tuesday.
The main demand of opposition leader V D Satheesan and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala was to stop the functioning of the AI camera in the state, which the high court did not accept, he added.
“The court has not considered any demands of the opposition leaders which would affect the functioning of the project. Hence it should not be considered as a setback to the government,” said Raju.
“The government has not handed over any funds to Keltron. Only after signing the comprehensive agreement will the government hand over the first instalment of the fund to Keltron. The agreement has not yet been signed between the government and Keltron. The cabinet has to clear this agreement first,” said the transport minister.
“How can the government inspect an agreement which has not been signed. The case has now been posted after three weeks. In between, the government has not given any commitment to pay any amount to Keltron. Hence the court’s directive not to pay any amount to the agency does not arise at all,” he added.