THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said both the CPM and the Congress should give up their double standards on the Athirappilly hydroelectric project. He said both parties should clarify their stance on the issue. “Both parties are trying to create confusion among the people. It was in view of people’s protest that both parties engaged a section of their leadership respectively to speak against the project. Even when they issue statements against the project, they continue efforts to get approval for the project through the back door.
While Oommen Chandy was the Chief Minister and Aryadan Mohammed the Power minister, both had written to the Centre to implement the Athirappilly project. The had stated the project will be of great importance to the state. At the same time, Ramesh Chennithala had stated in the Assembly that the Congress was against the project, Kummanam said.
“While Oommen Chandy calls for the implementation of the project through consensus, it implies the Congress is in favour of the project. The same is the state of affairs with the Left parties,” Kummanam said.The criticism and protest by veteran leader V S Achuthananadn and the CPI leaders were an effort to hoodwink people. Kummanam asked the Government to issue a white paper on the steps taken in the direction of the Athirappilly project.
‘Implementation thru consensus’
Idukki : Making his stance clear on the Athirappilly hydroelectric project, Electricity Minister M M Mani on Saturday said the government hadn’t dropped the project, which was expected to resolve power deficiency of the state to a great extent. Addressing media persons at Chettukuzhy in Kattappana, the minister said the project would be implemented if there was a consensus. “We will definitely implement the project if there is a consensus as the project will auger well for the growth of the entire state. I welcome former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s opinion in this regard. When it comes to power generation, some people come out with environmental issues,” he said.