The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : ‘VS evasive on HMT issue’

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Friday, Mar 21, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

‘VS evasive on HMT issue’

Special Correspondent

Chandy says Chief Minister has not replied to his letter

Says Blue Star Realtors ineligible to hold land in excess of land ceiling norms
Alleges that government is protecting Blue Star using HMT as a front

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has accused Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran of being evasive on whether Blue Star Realtors will be eligible for exemption from the ceiling on land holding under the land reforms laws.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Chandy said the Opposition had raised a new aspect in the Assembly related to the HMT land sale, focussing on the exemption given to HMT and the ineligibility of the purchaser to hold land in excess to the land ceiling norms.

Even if the government contention that HMT had the right to sell the controversial land was accepted, the Revenue Minister failed to respond to the question whether Blue Star would be eligible for the exemption. He said the Chief Minister had failed to reply to his letter dated March 4 seeking a clarification on the issue. He wanted to know whether the government was prepared to declare the 55 acres in Blue Star’s possession as excess land under the Kerala Land Reforms Act (KLRA), 1963.

Alleging that the government was protecting Blue Star using the HMT as a front, Mr. Chandy said that barring the demand for Ministers’ resignation, the UDF’s contention in the Merchiston Estate case had been upheld by court verdicts. The government had failed to prevent excess land in Kuttanad meant for redistribution among the landless farm workers from falling into the hands of real estate groups.

Lashing out at CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement deriding the Opposition, Mr. Chandy said the Opposition would not hesitate to react strongly to decisions favouring vested interests and real estate groups ignoring the demand for redistribution of land to the landless. Mr. Chandy said Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union’s opposition to inducting harvest machines in Kuttanad was primarily responsible for the losses suffered by farmers, with the rain adding to their woes.

The government stand on the Chengara agitation was unacceptable. It had no qualms in protecting the interests of real estate groups while ignoring the demand of the tribal people for land.

Mr. Chandy said he was aware that the government had not forwarded request for applications for special economic zones to the Centre for clearance. The government stand on Smart City was correct, but there was no justification for not forwarding requests from other promoters.

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