Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan, on Sunday, said that the environmental clearance granted to an upcoming apartment complex at Adimalathura, near Neyyattinkara, was in violation of the existing norms and that there was large-scale corruption behind the clearance.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the site at Adimalathura, Mr. Achuthanandan said there was no doubt that the clearance was granted in violation of norms and that there was involvement of officials and politicians, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, in the episode.
It was up to the media to carry out some investigative journalism and find out the exact sum that had changed hands as bribe in the deal, he said.
Similar deals
Similar corrupt deals were evident in the Pattoor case, in Kochi, and also in the case of a lakeside resort in Alappuzha, where even the Supreme Court’s directive to demolish the resort was being ignored, Mr. Achuthanandan said, adding that crores of rupees had certainly been paid as bribes. The only point to be ascertained was how much each one got, he said.
Stating that the LDF would take up the issue in the Assembly again on Monday, the Leader of Opposition said construction activities on these controversial sites had to be stopped with immediate effect.
V.S. Sivankutty, MLA, accompanied Mr. Achuthanandan, among others.
