The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Forest Department did not give clearance for helipad: Minister

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Saturday, Sep 15, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Forest Department did not give clearance for helipad: Minister

Benoy Viswom

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom on Friday denied leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy’s allegation that the Forest Department had given clearance for cutting of trees for construction of helipad at Merchiston Estate.

In a statement here, the Minister said that Mr. Chandy’s statement in the Assembly that the file for construction of the helipad ‘originated’ in the Forest Department was baseless.

Mr. Viswom said that the Forest Secretary’s order cited by Mr. Chandy to support his argument was not about cutting trees for the helipad.

He added that he convened a meeting of higher officials of his department on August 20 after the dark side of the land deal at the estate came to his notice and directed them not to allow undesirable land deeds in the name of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Prime Minister’s visit.

The matter was brought to the notice of ISRO authorities and Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. Action was taken towards cancelling the transfer of registry of the estate done in 2005 with the assistance of the UDF.

The Revenue authorities were told not to permit transfer of registry in favour of the ISRO. The proceedings for denotification of the environmentally fragile land were stopped. He continued that the multi-crore land deal using the ISRO as a shield did not go through because of the steps taken by him. This was why Xavi Mano Mathew sent a lawyer’s notice to him for defamation.

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