CM’s explanations adding to confusion: Pannian

CPI state secretary Pannian Ravindran said here on Tuesday that  CM Oommen Chandy’s repeated explanations on Emerging Kerala had not cleared the doubts and instead added to the confusion.  Even the CM and govt had no clarity on various projects put forth for attracting investment. Significant aspects such as land, investment, employment opportunities and environment clearance had not been examined and mere propaganda was the govt’s motive, the CPI leader said.

 He said while the CM claimed that GIM conducted in 2003 was a success, despite the claims of attracting investments to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore, only a few shopping malls could be opened. If Emerging Kerala was going in the same direction what was the point in wasting crores of rupees for conducting the conclave, Pannian asked.  The CM says not a piece of land would be handed over to the investors and the govt would be leasing out land. But the investor’s interest would be to grab the land whatever be the character of the transaction, he said. He alleged that efforts were on to handover land owned by PSUs such as Keltron to the investors.  He said whether the CM was ready to give an assurance that the 38 projects now being removed from the list of Emerging Kerala would not be brought in through the backdoor.