Red Crescent-Unitac deal: Kerala govt knew everything

Thiruvananthapuram: Documents have revealed that the contract for constructing an apartment complex at Wadakkanchery was given to Unitac with the knowledge of the state government. Mathrubhumi has accessed the letter sent by the Life Mission chief executive officer to Red Crescent general secretary.

Life Mission had contacted Unitac through letters over the deal. The documents revealed that the contract was given to the company after ensuring all help from the Kerala government. The letters were sent after the state government and Red Crescent signed an agreement over the Life Mission project.

“We have checked the layout prepared by Unitac Energy Solutions India Private Limited and are satisfied. Go ahead with the construction. Life Mission will secure all approvals required from the government for the construction. The construction must be completed within one year and the apartment complex must be handed over to Life Mission. Unitac can be appointed for constructing the apartment complex,” the letter stated.

A copy of this letter, sent by Life Mission to Red Crescent general secretary, was sent to Unitac also.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had explained that neither the government nor Life Mission had any connection with Unitac, which had undertaken the construction contract.

Red Crescent had promised the CM to build an apartment complex and hospital at Wadakkanchery at a cost of Rs 20 crore. Based on this, the government signed an agreement with Red Crescent on July 11, 2019.

Till now, the government had been distancing itself by explaining that the apartment complex construction contract was given by Red Crescent and that the government was not involved in it. If there was any commission over the deal, the government had no part in it.

However, the letter from Life Mission proves that these arguments were wrong. After the agreement was signed on July 11, 2019, Unitac contacted Life Mission on August 17 to prepare the layout for the apartment complex to be built in Wadakkanchery.

On August 22, Unitac handed over the detailed layout of the flat complex to Life Mission. It was based on this layout that the Life Mission CEO sent the letter to Red Crescent general secretary.