Licenses to quarries: Govt ready to face any probe, says CM

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 22: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that the state government is ready to face any enquiry in connection with the allegations of irregularities in granting licenses to 16 quarries.

The licenses were given as per law and in a 'most transparent' manner and government was ready to face any enquiry on the charges related to this issue, a press release from the Chief Minister's office said here on Friday.

All decisions taken after formation of the state Environment Assessment Authority in 2011 were as per norms.

Environmental clearance was given to 28 quarries between March 23, 2012, and Sept 27 when Dr Muthunayakam was SEAA chairman. After his resignation, the committee met four times between Oct 31, 2013, and Jan 24, 2014, and sanction was given to 16 quarries, solely based on its recommendations, it said.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan had called for a probe into the issue alleging irregularities.

PTI