Government planning real estate business: VS

Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has said that the government is planning real estate business in the name of Emerging Kerala.

He told reporters here on Wednesday that specially picked officers had been engaged to conduct this ‘’business.’’

Alleging that total anarchy was prevailing in the state over Emerging Kerala, he said that the government should urgently cancel the business summit.

He said that it was important to hold detailed discussions with all the concerned before inviting investments. What is needed for Kerala is  preparation of projects and selection of suitable sites which are practical and viable.

Action should be taken against those who were behind preparing ‘’unscientific projects,’’ he said.

He said that certain government departments had advertised for leasing out their land to private entrepreneurs without the knowledge of even department heads and ministers concerned.

Even Chandrasekharan Nair stadium, owned by the Police Department, is offered on lease. Sixty per cent of the 13,000 acres of land intended to be acquired for  petrochemical project is set apart for real estate purposes, Achuthanandan said.

“I have sent a letter to the Chief Minister seeking the details of the project. But I have not received any reply so far,’’ he said.

 The Chief Minister is reiterating that Emerging Kerala would be held on September 12 and all the projects had already been posted in the website. Many of the proposals have already been sent to the prospective entrepreneurs in various countries. Chandy is confident of their attendance in the summit. Even the Prime Minister and Union Ministers are scheduled to attend the meet. On the other hand, the Chief Minister is saying that what had been posted in the website were not government projects. And he says that the government had asked the Chief Secretary to vet the projects again and select, Achuthanandan said.

The Industries Minister is saying that the projects which invited criticism had been withdrawn from the website.

INKEL managing director is complaining that the Revenue Department was conservative in its attitude and trying to scuttle its project. In response to this, the Revenue Minister had raised his objection, the Opposition Leader pointed out.

 Referring to the Chala gas tragedy, he urged the government to consider  using sea route for transporting gas instead of road as it had resulted in  major tragedies.