Speaking to reporters, Kunhalikutty showed a photograph on his mobile phone of a meeting attended by himself, the chief minister and Tata Group representatives.
Kozhikode: Kerala Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty on Saturday said he and Chief Minister V D Satheesan had held discussions with representatives of the Tata Group during the recent Assembly session on the company's proposed shipbuilding project in the state.
His remarks came a day after the state government clarified that Satheesan's recent statement about Tata setting up its first shipbuilding venture in Kerala reflected the government's long-term maritime development vision under Mission Samudra. It said the chief minister's comments were not intended to suggest that a fresh investment proposal had already been finalised with the company.
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Earlier this week, while addressing a programme in Thiruvananthapuram, Satheesan said the Tata Group would establish its first shipbuilding venture in Kerala and that ship repair and maintenance facilities would also be developed in the state.
Minister cites meeting with Tata representatives
Speaking to reporters, Kunhalikutty showed a photograph on his mobile phone of a meeting attended by himself, the chief minister and Tata Group representatives.
He said the proposed project was based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed during the previous LDF government's tenure and that the present government was pursuing it in line with its policy of continuing projects initiated by earlier administrations.
"A Tata representative came and met the Hon'ble Chief Minister and me during the last Assembly session. They informed us that they were moving forward with the investment. A government is a continuous entity. Our responsibility is to carry forward projects initiated during the previous government's tenure and make them a reality," the minister said.
Kunhalikutty said the proposal involved an investment of around Rs 300 crore and that Tata representatives had officially conveyed their intention to proceed with the project.
He added that the investment was linked to land leased from the Kochi Port for the development of Malabar Cements and said he would examine the project's details further.
Minister rejects claim that Tata was unaware
Asked whether the discussions were a continuation of the MoU signed by the previous government, Kunhalikutty replied in the affirmative.
"It is a project proposed during the previous government's tenure. Tata representatives came and held discussions regarding it. They will proceed with it," he said.
The minister also rejected suggestions that the Tata Group was unaware of the proposal.
"So there is no need to say Tata is unaware or that Tata has not done anything. Tata is aware. Their representatives came, met us and held discussions," he said.
The issue gained political attention after CPM leaders accused the chief minister of misleading the public by claiming that the Tata Group would invest Rs 10,000 crore in a shipbuilding project in Kerala. Meanwhile, the state government has maintained that Satheesan's remarks outlined its broader maritime development vision rather than announcing a newly approved investment.
Published: 18 Jul 2026, 09:59 pm IST
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