Cong wants CBI probe into ISRO land deal

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 5 (UNI) Demanding a CBI probe into the alleged sale of government land by an individual to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for setting up an institute at Ponmudi, near here, the Congress today asked State Forest Minister Binoy Vishwam to quit office and face the inquiry.

''Mr Vishwam has no moral right to continue in office. He should relinquish his post and face the probe,'' Pradesh Congress President Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here.

Describing the land deal as one of the biggest in the state,he alleged the involvement of Left Democratic Front (LDF) top brass.

Mr Chennithala said the CBI inquiry should also probe if someone from the ISRO was also involved. Pointing out the Congress was not against the Institute coming up in the state, he said the deal was finalised after Mr Vishwam convened a conference three months ago in which State Labour Minister, forest officials and Mr Savy Mano Mathew, the said owner of the land in question, participated.

On Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan's statements the government was not aware of the ISRO approaching it at any point for land for the proposed institute, he said ''Mr Achutanandan is hiding facts.

The records show ISRO approached the state government.'' Regarding building of a helipad on the proposed plot, he said the Prime Minister's office was not aware of it. All these issues would be brought to his notice, he added.

Earlier, Mr Chennithala, who visited Ponmudi in the morning, was stopped by certain people from visiting the controversial land.

The deal involved 82 acre of land purchased by the ISRO from a private individual near Ponmudi Hills in the district for setting up the IIST for creating future space scientists.

It was part of the 707.23 acres Merchiston Estate taken over by the government under the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act of 2001.

The ISRO entered into a deal early this year for the transfer of about 120 acre of land from Mr Mathew.

In the first phase, 82 acre of land was given. Mr Mathew purchased 707 acre of land in Ponmudi from the Birla Group in 2005 allegedly at a throwaway price.

UNI