LDF stages walkout over plantation estate issue

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM-led Left Democratic Front or LDF Opposition in Kerala today staged a walkout from the state assembly, protesting the government's refusal to set up an assembly committee to probe alleged lapses by government to take back those plantation estates whose lease period have expired.

The Opposition alleged the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) was not sincere in handling the cases connected with the plantation estates in Nelliyampathi and other parts in the state, filed by their owners and the "government lost many cases as it failed to present them effectively".

Replying to the notice for adjournment motion moved by V Chenthamarakshan (CPI-M), Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Forest Minister K B Ganeshkumar said no inch of forest land and estates would be allowed to be lost and refuted the LDF charge that cases pertaining to the estates were not handled by advocates with integrity.

Seeking to turn the tables on the opposition, Chandy said the matter about an estate at Muppalivally in Nellaympathi, which was mentioned in the motion, happened during the tenure of the previous LDF rule.

The case was lost and the estate was returned to private owners during LDF rule, Chandy said. "It is ridiculous on the part of LDF to blame the UDF government for the mistakes and omissions during the LDF rule," he said.

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The government was pursuing the case and steps were being taken to restore it back to the state, he said.

Opposition members alleged government chief whip P C George had intervened in favour of the estate owners.

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Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan then mooted the idea of an assembly committee to look into all matters connected with the estate issue.

However, Chandy said there was no confusion or differences between the forest minister and the chief whip on the matter and asserted that government was committed to protecting forest land and would take steps to recover the plantation estates.

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Chenthamarakshan said 27 estates were in the hands of private owners even though their lease period had expired.

The government had not taken stern action and not effectively argued the cases in courts to restore them, he alleged.

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Speaker G Karthikeyan disallowed the leave for motion after Chandy and Ganeshkumar replied.

Later speaking to reporters, George denied the charge that he had intervened in favour of the private estate owners.

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George also criticised Ganeshkumar for his statement in reply to Achuthanandan's question in the House that he "did not know that ruling UDF had constituted a committee to look into the affairs of Nelliyampathi area".