Minister Mercykutty Amma infuriated over delay in Geotube project

Thiruvananthapuram: Fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma protested against the delay in approving the Geotube project, which will help in resisting sea erosion, during a cabinet meeting. She was provoked by the law minister's suggestion that the contract of the pilot project should be reviewed again.

Geotube is an alternative for resisting sea erosion by constructing a sea wall. The pilot project is implemented at Poonthura coast with the help of Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The new obstacles came up when the department was proceeding with the project contract. Mercykutty Amma mentioned this in the cabinet meeting.

Law minister A K Balan said that the contract and other procedures should be reviewed. With this, Mercykutty Amma asked if the project could be realised during the tenure of this government. She further said that the government's tenure would expire by the time they complete the checking.

There are no particular standards in the PWD as Geotube is implemented for the first time in the state and this is the reason for reviewing the project. Though A K Balan explained this, Mercykutty Amma was not convinced as she perceives it as a dream project to resist sea erosion. Though the chief minister was witnessing the argument, he remained silent in the meeting.