Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday cancelled the permission granted to MSPL Limited for mining of iron ore from Chakkittapara in Kozhikode district.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the media after the Cabinet meeting that the Industries Department had put up a note to the Cabinet to cancel the permission granted by the previous (LDF) government. The government would decide whether an enquiry was needed into the granting of the permission after examining all aspects of the issue. The government had no prejudice in such matters. If someone is guilty, they would not be allowed to escape. Otherwise, no action would be taken.
The Chief Minister said that the Cabinet had decided to cancel the permission considering the allegations over the decision of the previous government and the Central government’s order banning mining in the area (demarcated as ecologically sensitive area in the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats).
The clearance for mining was given in 2009. However, the company was not able to get the required clearances from the Centre. The State government extended the time granted for getting the clearances twice. But in August last, it denied permission to conduct DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) survey in the locality prior to mining.
