The Hindu : KPCC wants the project to be deferred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

KPCC wants the project to be deferred

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JUNE 9. The KPCC executive today decided to demand the setting up of an expert committee on mineral sand mining project in Alapuzha in the face of strong opposition expressed by several leaders, including V. M. Sudheeran and Ramesh Chennithala.

The KPCC executive spent a major portion of its time on this major project, which was recently cleared by the Cabinet and over which a strong agitation has come up, led by Mr. Sudheeran.

At one point of time, Mr. Sudheeran, who represents the Alapuzha Lok Sabha seat, even threatened to resign his Parliament membership if the State Government were to decide to go ahead with the proposed project.

Mr. Ramesh Chennithala, who also spoke at the meeting, which was attended by the AICC general Secretary, Ahmed Patel, on the second leg in the afternoon, too vehemently opposed the project in view of the groundswell against it.

Most of the participants who spoke on the issue directly hit out at the IUML and the Industry Minister, P. K. Kunahlikutty.

They emphasised the point that the IUML did not have anything to lose politically by implementing the project and the Congress would be the main loser if it failed to pay heed to the public protest.

The speakers wanted the Congress to take an assertive position on the issue.

Later, addressing a press conference, the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, said that the Congress views would be conveyed to the UDF at its June 11 meeting.

He said that discussions on the issue was held on the basis of a 10-point note highlighting the various pros and cons. He said that the KPCC wanted the project to be deferred till the expert committee's report was available.

In reply to a question, Mr. Muraleedharan said that it was for the Government to appoint an expert committee.

The Government had appointed an expert committee to examine the project but such an exercise was not acceptable to the people living in the area as it comprised representatives of the mining project.

Another IUML Minister, Nalakath Soopy, who holds the education portfolio, also came in for criticism for the way he had been handling the drafting of the Unified University Bill, it is reliably learnt.

However, Mr. Muraleedharan said that the KPCC sub-committee had pointed out several shortcomings in the draft bill.

Some of its recommendations had been accepted, but the party continued to have certain reservations about the powers of the executive committee, the constitution of which did not envisage representation for MLAs and student bodies.

The provisions relating to the general council, which did not have powers to discuss budget and other issues, was also opposed by the Government.

"Therefore, the KPCC has suggested that the draft bill should be approved only after further consideration,'' Mr. Muraleedharan added.

He said that the KPCC executive wanted the State Government to take more effective measures to protect traditional industries such as cashew, coir, handloom etc.

It also wanted more speed in tackling the problems relating to the plantation sector.

The KPCC said the Government should inject more speed in processing and implementing the projects that had been approved by the recent Global Investor Meet.

Mr. Muraleedharan said that Mr. Patel, who holds charge of Kerala, had urged all partymen in the State to uphold unity of the party and forget the bad blood generated by the recent Rajya Sabha elections.

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