Leasing out govt land: Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala leader alleges corruption

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has alleged a major corruption behind the government land being handed over on lease to private companies for operating wayside amenities centre. He also alleged corruption behind handing over of the land belonging to Kozhikode corporation to the company that bagged the contract for bio-mining in Brahmapuram waste plant.
In addition to 150 acres identified at 30 various places across the state, which have been given to various private companies on lease, the Kozhikode corporation has entered into agreement with Zonda Infratech four years ago to lease the land for 28 years and then to pledge the land. The LDF, which has always been saying that it is against such projects, should clarify its stand on this policy. The corporation should make it clear if the company has pledged this land, he said.
He asked why the corporation had given a contract for Rs 7.75 crore to the company after giving permission for the company to pledge the land. He said that the corporation has handed over 12.67 acres of land to the company through its strange order.
Chennithala said that the same kind of real estate deal was behind the contract for the wayside amenities centres as well.
He added that while the BJP government was selling off the public-sector companies, the LDF government is following the state by taking the same route.