The Hindu : Front Page : Blacklist SNC Lavalin: Achuthanandan

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Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005

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Blacklist SNC Lavalin: Achuthanandan

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan has said that the Canadian company SNC Lavalin, which had `cheated Kerala' while executing two hydel projects in the State, should be blacklisted by the Indian Government and the international community.

Participating in the discussion on the no-trust motion against the Oommen Chandy Government in the State Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the UDF and the LDF should join hands in exposing the `treachery' of the Canadian company. He said the company had gone back on its promise to give the State a grant of Rs.39 crores in return for being awarded the contract to execute the Kuttiyady Extension Scheme during the time of the UDF Government that stepped down from office in May 1996. The company `cheated' the State in a similar manner when it declined to provide for the Malabar Cancer Centre Rs.89 crores for the favour of being given the contract for the renovation and modernisation of the hydel schemes at Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniar after the LDF had assumed charge of the Government. "The State has thus lost Rs.128 crores promised by SLC Lavalin through two Ministers [G. Karthikeyan of the Congress and Pinarayi Vijayan of the CPI(M)]. This is a gross treachery. Rather than our trading charges and counter-charges, we should unite to prevent the company from going scot-free," he said.

He asked the Government to feel free to conduct a thorough inquiry into the deal and bring out the facts relating to it. He noted that a Subject Committee of the State Legislature headed by T. M. Jacob had recommended a Vigilance probe into the whole affair and this probe had been going on for more than three years now.

"You have changed the investigating officers four times during this period, because you fear that someone from your own side would ultimately become the first accused, he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan left the SNC Lavalin issue with these observations and moved on to the other issues he had been consistently taking up against the Government during the last four years in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition.

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