Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Thursday stated in the Assembly that the Government had de-notified 2,000 of the total 2,500 acres of land notified as industrial zone by the former LDF Government for a proposed airport in Aranmula, Pathanamthitta.
The statement of Chandy has come under suspicion following reports that only 500 acres had been notified by the former regime.
Chandy, while replying to a notice for adjournment motion on the controversial Cabinet decision to regularise land-filled paddy fields and wetlands, told the State Assembly that notification for 2,000 acres of paddy field and wetlands in Aranmula was being cancelled. He also said that 500 acres would be enough for the airport, hence it would be remained as industrial zone.
the chief minister told the State Assembly that the Industry Minister had already signed the order in this regard. Chandy said that his Government was going ahead with the international airport project as per a decision taken by the former LDF Government headed by Achuthanandan.
The notification was issued by the previous LDF Government in violation of the rules and procedures, he added.
However, Achuthanandan objected the statement and said that an airport was not needed in Aranmula. “There is no need of an airport in Aranmula. We are not going to allow this. The effort of the UDF government to notify 500-acre-land along the cost of Pamba river is to appease business moguls,” he said.
Later, the Speaker refused to allow the adjournment motion moved by the opposition over the cabinet decision to treat paddy fields that were reclaimed prior to 2005 as dry land.
Amid noisy scenes, the Speaker rushed through the day's remaining proceedings and adjourned the House for the day.