'Differences' with CM, Chief Sec seeks VRS

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 13 (UNI) Kerala Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob today reportedly sought voluntary retirment from service following her ''differences'' with Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan over the ISRO land deal issue.

She called on the Chief Minister this evening and informed him about her decision to opt for VRS, according to official sources.

Ms Jacob's decision came a day after Mr Achuthanandan told newspersons that the Chief Secretary ''erred'' in not informing him about the construction of a helipad at Merchiston Estate for the Prime Minister's visit.

The Chief Secretary had sanctioned Rs one crore for the work. But a controversy arose later with the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front alleging that Forest Minister Binoy Viswom helped a private party to sell vested Ecologically Fragile Land (EFL) at Ponmudi to the Indian Space Research Organisation to set up a space institute.

Subsequently, the government promised to provide 200 acres of alternate land to the ISRO free of cost to set up the institute.

UNI