The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : ‘Government took strong stand on Merchiston’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

‘Government took strong stand on Merchiston’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said here on Friday that the government had effectively intervened to check the irregularities in the sale of Merchiston Estate.

In a rejoinder to Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala, Mr. Viswom said Mr. Chennithala was trying to hide the embarrassment of the United Democratic Front (UDF) after raising allegations against the government. This was the reason why he was saying that the allegations raised by the UDF had been proved. Mr. Chennithala had not closely read the order of the Special Vigilance Court in Thiruvananthapuram, he said.

Mr. Viswom said the government had cancelled the registration and mutation of the transfer of the estate in favour of Xavi Mano Mathew of Southern Field Ventures and later sale of part of the estate to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The government’s stand had been communicated to the ISRO authorities.

It had also clearly stated its stand in the High Court and the Special Administrative Tribunal.

He urged the UDF to desist from raising politically motivated allegations after facilitating the transfer of the estate through the law it brought in 2003 to replace the Kerala Forests (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Ordinance.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section