Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

ISRO let down, says UDF

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders have termed grave the failure of the Government to provide adequate extend of land to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for setting up the proposed Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram.

Addressing a news conference after adjournment of the Assembly on Thursday, they alleged that ISRO was forced to purchase land that was still vested with the Government from a private individual because of the failure of the Government to respond positively to the ISRO’s request for land to set up the institute. The Opposition, they said, is keen that Kerala should not lose the institute on account of the controversy over the land sale, but it does not also want this to become an opportunity for a private individual to reap profit.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, Kerala Congress(M) leader K.M. Mani, Indian Union Muslim League leader C.T. Ahamedali, Congress Legislature Party deputy leader G. Karthikeyan, K.K. Shaju (Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithy) and Thomas Chandy (Nationalist Congress Party) attended the news conference.

Mr. Chandy saidthe Chief Minister had pleaded ignorance about the land transaction and ISRO’s letter, but it is now clear that Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director B.N. Suresh had given a letter to the Government on the subject on May 22. Project coordinator Vimal Das too had personally delivered another letter to the offices of the Chief Minister and the Forest Minister.

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