The Kerala Cabinet has bowed to pressure from various political parties, including Congress, and environmental groups and decided to revoke its decision to permit reclamation of 420 acres of backwater paddy land at Kumarakom in Kottayam and 47 acres of paddy fields in Ernakulam.
The Cabinet decision was to allow reclamation of the paddy fields at Kumarakom for a Rs. 2,200-crore tourist village project and that in Ernakulam for a Rs. 1,000-crore hospital project.
However, the government faced instant embarrassment with KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran coming out strongly against the Cabinet decision and leaders of all major political parties coming out in support of his stand.
When the Cabinet met on Wednesday, most ministers took the stand that the decision should be revoked.
