Kerala: Vizhinjam Commission to listen to ex-Planning Commission Advisor’s views
KOCHI: The Vizhinjam Judicial Commission probing the irregularities in the pact signed between the previous UDF Government and Adani Group for Vizhinjam port development project will hear former Planning Commission Advisor Gajendra Haldea.
Haldea had recently approached the Commission to make a clarification regarding the model agreement provided by the Planning Commission prior to the UDF Government entering into an agreement with the Adani Group for developing the Vizhinjam Port.
The Commission will hear from Haldea during a sitting scheduled to be held here on July 23. In an affidavit filed before the Commission, Haldea stated more than 500 major projects in the country were based on the model agreement prepared by the Planning Commission. However, unlike in the Vizhinjam project, no irregularities were revealed in any other project agreements.
He urged the Commission not to draw a conclusion before hearing his version as an unfavorable decision from the part of Commission will impact other projects based on similar model agreements currently underway in other states.
Earlier, Former Principal Secretary James Varghese had requested the Commission to examine Haldea.
However, the Commission maintained that people willing to appear before the Commission will be heard and it has no intention to summon anyone.
Later, Haldea approached the Commission requesting to hear him in connection with the agreement in the Vizhinjam port deal.
In the sitting held on Friday, Commission head Justice C N Ramachandran Nair observed the government has honestly attempted to realise Vizhinjam project. There might be some shortcomings on the part of the government, but it will not be fair to claim the entire project was brought up through corrupt practices.