Vijayan alleges Kerala government is politicising KIIFB land acquisition probe
Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan claimed the vigilance investigation into land acquisition in Kannur and Palakkad is politically motivated.
Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday accused the Kerala government of using a vigilance investigation into KIIFB-assisted land acquisition in Kannur and Palakkad for political reasons, according to the Deccan Chronicle. Vijayan stated that the move could hinder industrial growth and the creation of jobs.
The investigation follows a government order issued on Friday that tasked the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) with probing alleged procedural lapses. The order concerns the proposed acquisition of 4,896 acres in Kannur for industrial projects through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
Vijayan alleged the government is building a false narrative and ordering probes without departmental inquiries or formal reports. He claimed the action is a misuse of the VACB intended to cast doubt on development projects. He also noted that KIIFB is only a funding agency and is not directly acquiring land.
The government order stated that during a board meeting on October 25, 2018, KIIFB approved acquiring 5,336 acres in Palakkad and Kannur at an estimated cost of Rs 12,710 crore. The order alleged the decision lacked a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis or clearly identified viable projects to justify the land requirement.
Vijayan argued the acquisition process began nearly two decades ago and continued under the previous UDF government. He said that if the government felt more land was unnecessary, it should have made a policy decision to stop the process rather than ordering a probe.
He warned that such investigations could disrupt land acquisition for public use when governments change. Vijayan added that blocking projects in Kannur and Palakkad would negatively impact economic growth and employment in those districts.