Kerala CM slams Center for 'halting' state highway work

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged Center to suspend land acquisition in districts of Kerala for the development of National and State Highways.

Thiruvananthapuram: Slamming the Centre for allegedly halting the land acquisition process for national highways in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said, "The BJP-led NDA government and the Sangh Parivar has got only one agenda and that is to destroy all the development the state has gained over the years."

Vijayan also alleged that the BJP has become a political party which stands against the interest of people.

The National Highways Authority of India had recently suspended four six-lane work and land acquisition in districts of Kerala, except Kasaragod. This resulted in stalling of the development of 1,078 km of NH and State Highways (SH) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana in the state.

Two days ago, State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac posted in his Facebook account a screenshot of a letter sent by BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai to the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on September 14 last year.

The letter purportedly seeks to stay land acquisition proceedings for NH 66 which passes through the Edappally-Moothakunnam route in Ernakulam district.

Vijayan said that it was "shocking" for him to know that the BJP state president had written to Gadkari requesting that the NH development in the state should be stopped.

"Behind this letter, there is a kind of sadistic attitude to watch the people here continue facing traffic snarls forever," Vijayan said.

"There were earlier attempts to stall the NH development in the state due to the vested interests of certain people. Now the BJP, which rules the Centre, has been supporting such interests and the state leadership was trying to protect these vested interests and halt road development," Vijayan added.

The Chief Minister further added, "If the land acquisition process faces further delays, the land value would increase over the year and will make it difficult for the government to pay compensation."

Continuing his attack on the NDA government, Vijayan said that the state readied a package of Rs 7,340 crore for Ockhi victims but got only Rs 133 crore.

Meanwhile, Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala sought an apology from Pillai "for taking steps against the development of national highways in the state."

"Development of national highways are necessary for the overall development of the state. Decision halting the development of the highways has dampened the dreams of the
people of Kerala.

Pillai, who had written the letter seeking to halt the work must apologise to the people of Kerala," Chennithala said.