Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan on Tuesday said that he was for going ahead with the Bolgatty project which could provide employment to over 4,000 people. Speaking at a seminar series on ‘Contemporary politics and development’, organised by the Press Club here, he said the EMKE Group chairman Yusuffali got possession of the land on lease through a global tender quoting the highest amount. The CPM Ernakulam district secretary has come out with the allegation that the land was leased out without following the rules.
Asked whether he would accept the view expressed by CPM leader M M Lawrence that VS could not understand what had taken place in the leasing of the Port Trust land, VS sarcastically said, ‘’he might be right.’’
“Lawrence might have received more information. When someone gets more information, he could raise doubts. If it is convincing, it can be accepted,’’ he said.
Achuthanandan, however, said that his personal view was that if someone came with projects to provide employment to people it should be supported. On the LuLu mall controversy, he said the land falls under the Kalamassery Municipality and it was acquired from private individuals. He said Yusuffali had followed all rules in the construction of the mall. “Those who have been remaining silent for the past five years during the construction of the mall have come out with the complaints now,’’ he said.
He reiterated that the Cabinet had granted approval for the project on the basis of a detailed scrutiny by the then Local Self-Government Minister.
On the Aranmula airport project, Achuthanandan said that he had only sought a report on the feasibility of the project from the District Collector. But, Oommen Chandy is saying that it was the LDF Government which granted all the required clearance for the project, he said. The Opposition Leader said that the proposed airport site fell under the catchment area of the Pampa which is noted for the fertile paddy fields.
Lambasts Chandy
Achuthanandan, referring to the crisis in the UDF, said Oommen Chandy had been pampering communal forces for gaining political mileage during the elections.
The communal forces had been successful in influencing the government for getting their demands met, he said.
