KOCHI: The Vizhinjam Commission constituted to probe into the irregularities alleged in the deal signed between the UDF Government and Adani Group on Thursday sought more clarity from the state government regarding the terms of reference of the inquiry.
In its first sitting, Justice C N Ramachandran, who is heading the Commission, and member K Mohandas, the former Union Secretary for Shipping, chaired the proceedings. P J Mathew, the third member and a former Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer was absent.
Discussion regarding the Commission’s terms of reference was held in the sitting. Seeking more clarity from the government, the Commission asked whether it could presume the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Vizhinjam project as correct and whether inquiry could be conducted on its basis. It also sought clarity on whether it could look into the authenticity of the CAG report as part of the inquiry. Clarity was also sought with regard to the decision makers behind the Vizhinjam port project with the Commission asking the government to detail the hierarchy of the decision makers.
It also heard the persons impleaded in the inquiry. At present, there are 12 parties included as part of the probe. Among them are former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, former Ports Minister K Babu, the Adani Group, the state government, former secretary James Varghese, journalist Elias John, M K Salim from Kollam, Aam Aadmi Party representative C R Neelakandan, Vizhinjam residents’ representative Felix K Pappali, independent persons John Joseph, Third Front Harbour Engineering and Dr Vincent Panikulangara.
The commission was constituted in June last year to probe the Vizhijam port development deal. Though it was given a six-month deadline to conduct the probe and file a report, it could not start proceedings owing to the absence of facilities. Recently, its deadline was extended by another six months.
The government had ordered the judicial probe following the observations by the CAG on the lapses on the part of the state government in the Vizhinjam deal. This included extending the contract period of the project to 40 years, which would generate an extra income of around `29,2017 crore for the Adani Group.