Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has decided to nullify the controversial MoU with EMCC over a deep-sea fishing contract.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has ordered to revoke the MoU with the firm and initiate a probe on the officials in Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC).
Addressing a press meet on Saturday, the Chief Minister asserted that a detailed examination will be carried out on the MoU. “As per the government policy, no foreign company or Indian corporate will be allowed for deep-sea trawling along the Kerala coast,” said the CM.
“Neither the state government nor any of its departments have not signed any MoU in this regard. KSINC is a public sector undertaking. It is normal for such undertakings to sign MoUs in any conferences or investment meets. It would come for the consideration of the government only later. A policy decision in this regard would be taken only then," Pinarayi Vijayan said.
He said such agreements should be brought to the attention of the government at the stage of implementation. "But, in this case, concerned officials had not brought it to the notice of the government," he added.
"Actually, a memorandum submitted by the company to the industries department was actually now being propagated by the Opposition as the contract agreement," CM said, adding that it was an attempt by the opposition to create a smokescreen of allegations ahead of the Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma also condemned that controversy over the contract was a result of a conspiracy between opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and representatives of EMCC.
