: Former State Planning Board member Peelipose Thomas has called for a detailed investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged corruption and irregularities in granting of clearances for the KGS Aranmula International Airport project.
In a statement here on Thursday, Mr. Thomas alleged that the Union and State governments had supported the airport project in blatant violation of not less than 16 key laws and rules.
Mr. Thomas said the people’s agitation in Aranmula had become a historic mass movement for the cause of nature and environment.
But, the State government notification declaring 1,500 acres of land spread across the villages of Aranmula, Mallappuzhassery, and Kidangannur as industrial area was still in force, in spite of the cancellation of environment clearance for the airport project by the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court of India, Mr. Thomas said.
He said there was lack of clarity in the final order issued by the District Collector for the restoration of an illegally converted natural stream in Aranmula puncha. Mr. Thomas alleged that the Collector had failed to fix a deadline for completing the stream restoration process.
