Kerala CM-led IT department reconsiders project on controversial Aranmula land

Thiruvananthapuram: The IT Department under the Chief Minister has not ruled out the controversial project to build an IT park and integrated business township on the land identified for the Aranmula airport. The Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers' Welfare, along with the Revenue Department, had taken the stand that permission could not be granted for a project that violated the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act. This was part of the CPI's political decision.

After the project became controversial, the Chief Secretary, following the Chief Minister's instructions, convened a meeting of all the heads of the departments concerned. The meeting decided to reject the project application and issue an order to that effect. However, instead of accepting it, the Department of Information Technology wrote a letter to the Pathanamthitta Collector, asking him to examine the feasibility of the land for implementing the project. The Chief Minister had earlier responded, before the Chief Secretary’s meeting, that he was not aware of the project.

The Information Technology Department's current action is said to be with the knowledge of the Chief Minister. As it is a project in collaboration with the Government, the application was submitted by the company TOFL Pathanamthitta Infra Limited.

The company claimed that it owns the 335 acres of land previously proposed for the Aranmula airport in Mallappuzhassery, Aranmula, Kidangannoor, and Mezhuveli villages of Kozhencherry taluk. The Collector has been asked to examine the information, including how much of this is dry land (karabhoomi) and how much of the paddy field was flattened before 2018, and to submit a report.