Kerala - Kochi   

Chandy denies VS charge

Kochi: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy on Tuesday refuted Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s allegation that he is blocking development projects.

Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of a Congress State conference here on Tuesday, he said he had offered wholehearted support to every development scheme of the Left Democratic Front government even while pointing out various shortcomings, be it the SmartCity project or the Vizhinjam Deepsea Container Transhipment Terminal project.

The Opposition has not launched any agitation against any project, but its stand on each of these cases has been vindicated. Asked why the various resolutions adopted by the Congress State conference had singled out the Chief Minister for attack, Mr. Chandy said Mr. Achuthanandan naturally came under attack because he was heading the government. “Besides, he is also trying to be the Opposition leader of the ruling front,” he retorted to a question.

The SmartCity project has not gone one step ahead in the last two and a half years that the LDF government has been in power. The foundations have not yet been laid, the master plan is not ready and land registration is nowhere in sight. The United Democratic Front (UDF) had pointed out that the agreement signed by the government would not work out. “Today, the SmartCity project has lost its smartness,” he said.

The Opposition continues to consider Vizhinjam as a golden project. But the LDF government’s decision to suddenly acquire 1,088 hectares of land without any reason has led to popular resentment. The speed with which Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony got clearance for the project surprised even the LDF. But nothing has been done since then.

Asked whether he was promoting Zoom Developers, with the Chief Minister aligned on the other side, Mr. Chandy said it was the Chief Minister who had taken up the case of Zoom Developers by writing to the Prime Minister many times to give clearance. He had joined Mr. Achuthanandan’s all-party delegation and had accompanied him to meet the Prime Minister for getting clearance for Zoom Developers. However, the Prime Minister suggested that the project be dropped due to security reasons.

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