Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala has urged the State government to bring to light those who awarded the survey for iron-ore mining at three panchayats, including Chakkittapara, in Kozhikode district.
He was speaking to presspersons after visiting the proposed site for mining at Pannikotta in Chakkittapara panchayat on Saturday. The State government should order a comprehensive and impartial inquiry into the allegations that sanction was given to carry out mining activities in the eco-sensitive region, he said.
Mr. Chennithala said the Congress would never support mining at Chakkittapara. He hailed the decision of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government to order a Vigilance probe into the allegations. However, more clarity was needed. Congress leaders V.M. Sudheeran and T.N. Prathapan had already demanded a probe by the CBI into the charges, he said.
‘Why a private firm?’The KPCC president wondered why the previous Left Democratic Front government ignored a public sector company and accorded sanction to a private company based in Karnataka to conduct mining in 1,000 acres of land.
The public had every right to know the role of former Industries Minister and CPI (M) leader Elamaram Karim in the issue, he said. Mr. Chennithala said that he had received a complaint from Moideenkutty of Mukkam against Mr. Karim’s relative T.P. Noushad in a land fraud case. The complaint would be handed over to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, he said.
District Congress Committee president K.C. Abu and UDF district chairman P. Sankaran were present.
