Assembly proceedings disrupted over ISRO land deal

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 6 (UNI) The controversial ISRO land deal today rocked the Kerala Assembly with the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) disrupting the day's proceedings demanding the resignation of Forest Minister Benoy Viswom and a CBI inquiry into the deal.

A row erupted over the ecological status of 82 acre of land at Ponmudi Hills in this district, purchased by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for setting up the Indian Institute of Space Science.

The issue came up in the Assembly for the second time with the Opposition alleging the Forest Minister helped an estate owner, who sold the land to the ISRO, get the reserved land de-notified.

Trouble broke out during the Zero Hour when the Treasury Benches tried to disrupt the speech of Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy who alleged the estate owner had the backing of the Ministers.

Soon, slogan shouting members of the UDF rushed to the Well of the House, forcing Speaker K Radhakrishnan to complete the remaining day's business, including introduction of three bills, in five minutes.

The UDF members alleged the minutes of a meeting convened by the Forest Minister clearly established his role in enabling the de-notification of the land, thus helping its owner Xavi Mano Mathew to sell it to ISRO.

The deal involves 82 acre of land purchased by the ISRO from the 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 acre 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 acres of land was given. Mr Mathew had purchased 707 acre of land in Ponmudi from the Birla Group in 2005 at a throwaway price.

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