Oommen Chandy Again, News

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/331266/kerala-go-ahead-aranmula-airport.html

Kerala to go ahead with Aranmula airport project

Thiruvananthapuram, May 8, 2013, PTI:

Kerala government on Wednesday said it would go ahead with the Aranmula Airport project promoted by Chennai-based KGS Group, notwithstanding the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s opposition to it.

“Permission for the airport was accorded by the previous LDF government and the government is of the view that the airport is necessary,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

“There is no change in the stand of the government, which has a 10 per cent stake in the project,” Chandy added.

The chief Minister was reacting to the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee led by CPM leader Sitaram Yechury to shelve the airport project.

The committee had held that laws were violated while giving permission for the airport.

The panel, in its report, said that permission was granted for the airport after overlooking the rule that two airports within 150 kilometres are not accepted.

The airport is constructed by the KGS Group in Pathanamthitta district at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. Initial investment was Rs 500 crore. Centre’s permission for the project was obtained on August 17 last year.

Meanwhile, “Aranmula Paithruka Grama Karmasamithy” (protest committee) demanded a detailed probe into the land dealings, financial transactions and political-bureaucratic interventions in favour of the proposed airport at Aranmula.

In a statement, APGK chiefpatron Kumanam Rajasekhraran said Centre should not have accorded approval to a project that has violated land laws, environmental rules and more over, not obtained environmental clearance.