Kerala CM’s workplace to overview deep-sea fishing deal

By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has ordered a overview of the MoU signed between Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) and US agency EMCC International India Pvt Ltd on deep-sea fishing.The Rs 2,950-crore mission had courted an argument after Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala alleged corruption within the deal. 

It is learnt that the chief minister has directed his workplace to look at the MoU. “The chief minister has called for the file. Further comments can be made only after studying it,” mentioned a senior officer of the CMO. The scrutiny, it’s learnt, would cowl the authorized validity of the settlement and whether or not it’s towards the federal government’s fisheries coverage. If the latter is proved, the KSINC administration might be held accountable for it.Responding to the allegations, the chief minister had lately hinted that Chennithala accessed sure paperwork pertaining to the mission via KSINC managing director N Prasanth.

The officer was Chennithala’s non-public secretary when he was the house minister within the earlier UDF authorities. Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma has reportedly sought motion towards Prasanth. The minister additionally raised concern over continuing with the mission which can result in protest by the fisherfolk. 

Mercykutty Amma on Sunday alleged a conspiracy between the Opposition chief and EMCC towards the LDF authorities. The minister admitted that she had met EMCC representatives however denied the allegation that she together with the corporate representatives had met the chief minister.  

On Sunday, Chennithala launched two extra paperwork — the MoU signed at ASCEND 2020 and one other on the allotment of 4 acres of land to the US agency at Pallipuram Industrial Growth Centre, Alappuzha. He claimed that the settlement was not signed in a single day, however after holding talks for greater than three years.