CPI demands detailed inquiry into ISRO land deal

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) today demanded a detailed inquiry into the ISRO land deal for setting up an Institute of Space Technology at Ponmudi near here.

CPI State Secretary Veliyam Bhargavan said the party was not against any kind of inquiry into the murky land deal in which Forest Minister Binoy Vishwam, belonging to the party, was alleged to have been involved.

Stern action should be taken against all those officials involved in the deal. The inquiry had been demanded as there were doubts about some officials' hand in the deal, he said in a statement here.

When reports came out that an Estate owner had sold some land to the ISRO for setting up the Institute, Forest Minister Binoy Vishwam had written a letter to the Chief Minister demanding an inquiry, he added.

Mr Bhargavan also alleged that the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front Government was responsible for handing over forest land to private land owners. It was during the then Chief Minister Oomman Chandy's period that the land was entrusted to private hands, he alleged.

Mr Vishwam, belonging to the CPI, was alleged to have colluded in the land deal.

The Opposition UDF had raised the issue in the ongoing Assembly session and called upon the Chief Minister to initiate action against the minister besides ordering a CBI probe into the transaction involving land which, they contended, belonged to the government.

The deal involved 82 acre of land purchased by the ISRO from the private individual, which 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 acres of land from Mr Xavi Mano Mathew, the estate owner.

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