Contrary to claims by the Chief Minister’s office on the Aranmula airport project, records reveal that the Principal Secretary had examined the report of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and the present government had knowledge of the illegal activities that were taking place in the area during its tenure.
Even though the Chief Minister is repeatedly claiming that not even an inch of land had been filled during the tenure of the present government and no illegal activity had happened under his governance, Assembly records prove otherwise.
On March 20, 2012, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishan, the then Revenue Minister, in reply to an unstarred question by A K Saseendran and Thomas Chandy, had admitted in the state Assembly that the government is aware of the illegal activities in the area.
This was 34 days before the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) sought a clarification from the state government regarding the landfilling done for the airport project, as the letter was dated February 16, 2012.
“The District Collector has been asked to take immediate measures to stop the illegal landfilling at the area and take stringent action against it,” Thiruvanchoor had said.
But the clarification note from the Chief Minister’s office on Friday stated that the Principal Secretary had “drafted (his note) without knowing about the EAC clearance”.
29/12/13 New Indian Express
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Even though the Chief Minister is repeatedly claiming that not even an inch of land had been filled during the tenure of the present government and no illegal activity had happened under his governance, Assembly records prove otherwise.
On March 20, 2012, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishan, the then Revenue Minister, in reply to an unstarred question by A K Saseendran and Thomas Chandy, had admitted in the state Assembly that the government is aware of the illegal activities in the area.
This was 34 days before the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) sought a clarification from the state government regarding the landfilling done for the airport project, as the letter was dated February 16, 2012.
“The District Collector has been asked to take immediate measures to stop the illegal landfilling at the area and take stringent action against it,” Thiruvanchoor had said.
But the clarification note from the Chief Minister’s office on Friday stated that the Principal Secretary had “drafted (his note) without knowing about the EAC clearance”.
29/12/13 New Indian Express
