'Dubious land deals by UDF to be probed if LDF voted to power'

A high-level probe would be launched to identify people behind alleged "dubious land deals" done by the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala, if Left Democratic Front is voted to power in the May 16 Assembly polls, CPI (M) said today.
Hitting out at the UDF government for allegedly selling off ecologically sensitive government land to some private persons, Party State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan pointing out that the Chief Secretary had publicly stated that government officials had no role in the "illegal land deals".
"This is an unusual situation. If LDF government comes to power, a high-level probe will be launched to identify those who worked behind numerous dubious land deals done by the Chandy government," Balakrishnan, flanked by CPI(M) district secretary P Rajeeve, told reporters here.

The Chandy government had recently cancelled a decision to hand over about 127 acres of "surplus" land spread over Ernakulam and Thrissur districts by according concession under the Land Ceiling Act to a private company allegedly having links with a "controversial godman".
The government had also been forced to backtrack on granting permission to an eco-tourism project in 420 acres at Methran Kayal backwater paddy fields at Kumarakom village in Kottayam district and a super speciality medicity project in 47 acres of paddy land at Kadamakkudy in Kochi.
Balakrishan said eminent poetess and environmentalists like Sugathakumari had voiced concern over the government's land policy.

"They are asking whether wetlands and forests will remain in Kerala if the Chandy government continues. All such illegal things were done at a time when over three lakh landless poor wait for small pieces of land to build houses for them," he said.