Deep sea fishing deal: Mercykutty performs blame sport, however Prasanth has proof

Express News Service
KOCHI: he stand-off between the state authorities and the highest bureaucrat who signed the controversial multi-crore deep-sea fishing deal reached a boiling level with the fisheries minister reiterating on Thursday that the state was stored at midnight and the officer refuting her declare.

While Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma pointed fingers at Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) MD N Prasanth concerning the signing of the memorandum of understanding — allowing US agency EMCC to conduct fishing off the Kerala coast — the IAS officer is learnt to have submitted his rationalization to the chief minister, with proof robust sufficient to clear his identify.

“To whom did he communicate about the MoU? He has not informed anything about the deal to anybody in the ministry. Also, he doesn’t have any right to sign such an MoU with a foreign firm. We are waiting for the report of an inquiry against him based on which we’ll initiate appropriate action,” Mercykutty Amma informed TNIE.

Prasanth could make proof public if govt pushes additional

The state authorities, in an order cancelling the MoU on February 22, acknowledged that KSINC had signed the controversial deep-sea fishing deal with EMCC with out informing or consulting the state authorities.“As a fully owned government company, KSINC is bound to comply with the government policies in all its actions. But (regarding signing of the MoU with EMCC), the KSINC has proceeded without consulting or even informing the government. The MoU has led to incorrect information being spread that the government of Kerala has taken a decision to grant deep-sea fishing right to trawlers of corporates whereas no such decision has been taken.”

As the order is seen as an try by the state authorities to wriggle out of the sticky scenario it’s at present in by placing the onus of the controversial MoU on Prasanth, the officer is learnt to have submitted his rationalization to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In it, the officer is learnt to have listed the procedures that have been adopted earlier than signing the MoU with EMCC and the official communication he had made to apprise the federal government of the MoU.

Though Prasanth was not out there for remark, sources near him stated the officer had all the required paperwork to show that he had not breached any official protocol and that he had communicated to the federal government previous to signing the MoU.

While Mercykutty Amma had stated that KSINC doesn’t have any position in development of trawlers or fishing vessels, the Memorandum of Association of KSINC particularly states “to establish, maintain and operate shipping services and to purchase, take in exchange, charter, hire, build, construct or otherwise acquire, and to own, work, manage, and trade with steam, sailing, motor and other ships, tankers, trawlers, dredgers, drifters, tugs and vessels of all descriptions.”Sources stated if the federal government continues accountable the officer for the fiasco, he will make the proof public, which might be the very last thing the LDF authorities needs with the meeting polls quick approaching.