
Govt's tall claims collapsing like NH: Oppn leader
K
ottayam: The progress report of the state govt, which is a self-praising exercise, has in reality brought out the shortcomings of the govt, said opposition leader V D Satheesan.
Speaking at a meet-the-press event at Kottayam Press Club on Saturday, Satheesan said that since the report was prepared before the collapse of the national highway (NH), the report takes the credit for constructing the NH in the state.
However, later on, the CM put the onus on the Centre and said that the state has no role. Satheesan also said that cracks have appeared in around 100 spots on the NH. The tall claims put up by the LDF govt are collapsing like the NH, he said.
More cracks are likely in the rains ahead. He also said that the constructions along the NH are unscientific. The state PWD is reiterating that everything is being examined and observed in detail.
Those who claimed the credit for the NH are not to be seen after cracks appeared. In an apparent dig at PWD minister P A Mohamed Riyas, Satheesan said that it would be better if reels are shot from the places where cracks have appeared.
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Satheesan also reminded that the proposed SilverLine project is an environmental disaster. He said that the UDF will not allow its implementation even if the LDF govt gets permission from the Centre. "UDF took such a decision based on a detailed study. The project was introduced even without a DPR. K-Rail will ruin the state financially as well as ecologically. During the rainy season, boats will have to be used along K-Rail," he said.
Satheesan also alleged that what the CM said about the NH was all wrong. The CM said that the NHAI shut down during the UDF rule. The opinion since the time of V S Achuthanandan govt was that the road should be built in 30m. All parties were on strike at that time due to the difficulty in acquiring land. It was only after the UPA govt brought the Right to Fair Compensation Act in 2013 that land could be acquired by paying eight to 10 lakh for each cent.
It was because of that law the govt was able to acquire land. In 2014, the UDF govt held an all-party meeting and issued an order allowing the Centre to build a road in 45m, he said.
Another claim by the chief minister and others is that the Kerala govt has given Rs 5,000cr to acquire the land. State govts can help in acquiring the land according to the value capture finance model introduced by the central govt in 2021. According to the reply in Parliament, up to 100% of the land has been acquired by states like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Himachal, and West Bengal.
Despite this, the state govt is claiming the Rs 5,000cr given as credit. In this situation, has the Kerala govt signed a value capture finance agreement? If so, the govt should disclose its details, Satheesan said.

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