VS calls for stopping Vizhinjam project

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan on Thursday hardened his position on the multi-crore Vizhinjam International Deep water Multipurpose Seaport project by asking the LDF government to stop the project till the Judicial Commission report submits its report.

In a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he said CAG has pointed out irregularities in the agreement and so necessary rectification has to be carried out in the agreement.

"In the circumstances, the work of the project has to be stopped till the Judicial Commission submits its report", he said.

The former Chief Minister pointed out that it was LDF that told the people about the corruption in the agreement for the construction of project.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report tabled in the state Assembly had observed that interests of Kerala were not protected in the agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ Private Ltd for implementing the Rs 7,525 crore project.

The agreement was signed during the previous Congress-led UDF government headed by Oommen Chandy and the work of which was formally launched in 2015.

As per the agreement, Adani under PPP route on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer basis (DBFOT) would fund and among other things construct berths and related infrastructure and operate the port for a period of 40 years.

The government had appointed a three-member inquiry commission, headed by Justice (Retd) C N Ramachandran Nair, to look into the alleged lapses pointed out by the CAG.