Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari today said the Rs 7,500-crore international port project in Vizhinjam in Kerala might be moved to nearby Colachel in Tamil Nadu if political differences in the way of awarding it to the Adani group are not resolved fast.
While the CPM-led opposition LDF stuck to its reservations with private participation, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today asserted after an all-party meet in Thiruvananthapuram that his government would go ahead with the project at any cost.
Earlier in the day, talking to reporters in Mumbai, Gadkari said if Kerala kept on dragging feet on final decision, the project would be moved to Colachel in Kanyakumari district, less than 30 km from Vizhinjam.
"If there are differences in Kerala on this port, I am giving you a clear direction that we will make the international port at Colachel," he said.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Chandy said LDF's objections are baseless.
"The government will go ahead with the project because if not now, the project itself will be lost forever to Kerala. We will not allow that situation," he said.
Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan's objection that the state's interests have been ignored and the things are not moving in a transparent manner are baseless, he said.
Before the all-party meeting, CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged Rs 6,000-crore corruption in the deal with Adani Ports.
Gadkari said having a port in the area is crucial as the country is losing traffic to the Colombo port and added his ministry has already carried out feasibility studies for the alternative site in Tamil Nadu.
"If the people of Kerala don't want development, we have nothing to say. I am making it clear -- because of the politics, I'm going to shift the international major project to Colachel. Don't blame me for that," he said.
