A two-member delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rakesh Singh and Uday Singh, MPs, on Sunday visited Aranmula on a fact-finding mission assigned to them by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
The BJP MPs, accompanied by party State president V. Muraleedharan and Thiruvaranmula Paithruka Grama Karma Samithi patron Kummanam Rajashekharan, visited the portion of Aranmula puncha (paddy land) and wetland that had been identified as the site for the proposed greenfield international airport project of a Chennai-based private company.
Ms. Swaraj had sent the delegation to Aranmula on the basis of a memorandum filed by Mr.Rajashekharan two weeks ago.
The MPs visited the illegally-converted paddy land, partially-converted natural stream of Valiayathodu, sacred groves of Thettikkavu, Aringottkavu, and the Scheduled Castes colonies that would be affected if the project was implemented.
The MPs said they were fully convinced of the irregularities in the name of a private airport project.
Report soon
A detailed report on the environmental issues and other violations would be submitted to the Opposition Leader soon, they said.
Mr. Uday Singh said it was strange to notice that the Defence Ministry headed by A.K. Antony, which had objected to the airport project earlier, had gone back on its stand to give a green signal for the controversial project allegedly following the high pressure intervention of two local MPs.
He alleged that there was every reason to suspect a big scam behind various clearances claimed to have been obtained by the private company from the Centre which should be subject to a detailed inquiry by a Central agency.
Mr. Singh said that a person introduced himself as a leading industrialist had approached them at the Nedumbasserry airport.
He said Vijaya Chakaraborty, BJP MP from Assam, who is also a member of the Parliament Standing Committee on Environment and Forests, too will be visiting Aranmula soon.
