Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 28 (IANS): Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday assured the assembly that he would take up with the central government passport-related problems faced by expatriates at state airports.

Indian Union Muslim League legislator M. Ali drew the attention of the house to new passport rules that were allegedly leading to harassment of expatriate Keralites.

"When people employed in the Middle East come for vacation, their passports are impounded at three airports in the state over minor errors regarding their names and address," he said.

"Once that is done, they are asked to apply for a fresh passport and when the new passport is issued, the authorities fail to give the old passport in which their employment visa is stamped," said Ali.

According to complaints, there were more than 1,000 people who were suffering in this manner.

"This issue was not there till around seven months back and it began with a new top official taking over in Delhi in the passport section, the rule of not returning the old passport or taking out the visa stamped page and affixing it to the new passport is also not taking place," said Chandy.

"I will immediately take this issue with the external affairs ministry and the ministry of overseas Indian affairs," said Chandy.