Karunakaran seeks probe into Munnar eviction, Smart City

Taking objection to the manner in which the anti-encroachment drive was progressing in in the hill station of Munnar, senior NCP leader K Karunakaran today demanded a probe into all aspects of the eviction drive.

Addressing a press conference here, he also sought a comprehensive inquiry into the Smart City IT project deal entered into between the Kerala Government and Dubai-based Technology Free Zone Authority (TECOM) in the wake of allegations of irregularities in the agreement.

Uprooting tea plants of Kannan Devan Hill plantations in Munnar in the name of eviction would only discourage investors from coming to Kerala, Karunakaran said adding the action would also result in loss of jobs for workers.

The government was adopting a partisan stand in taking action against encroachers in Munnar by deliberately avoiding certain persons while taking action against some, he alleged.

In this regard, Karunakaran said the procedure adopted to evict the office of CPI, a partner in the government, was not correct. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan should have consulted the CPI representatives in the cabinet before taking action, he said.

A committee headed by the Chief Secretary and two top retired officials should probe the eviction process in Munnar. On the Smart City project, he said allegations had surfaced that conditions approved in the cabinet were altered in the agreement and so a comprehensive probe should be ordered.