CM Vijayan Dismisses CAG Report on PPE Kit Purchases; Approves Brewery Project
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23 (NationPress) After the Congress-led Opposition accused the Kerala government of corruption in PPE kit purchases and granting approval to a controversial liquor company, CM Pinarayi Vijayan denied the claims, emphasizing prompt action during the pandemic and the economic benefits of the new brewery project.
Key Takeaways
- CM Vijayan rebuffs corruption allegations.
- Importance of swift action during the pandemic.
- New brewery project expected to create jobs.
- Approval process for industries clarified.
- CAG report findings on PPE kit costs discussed.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23 (NationPress) Following serious allegations of corruption from the Congress-led Opposition regarding the procurement of PPE kits by the Kerala government during the Covid crisis and the approval granted to a contentious liquor firm, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan firmly rejected all accusations on Thursday.
The Congress raised concerns regarding the PPE kits during the Assembly session after the CAG report was presented.
In response to the allegations, CM Vijayan stated that the paramount objective during the pandemic was to protect human lives, which guided their actions at that time.
“In urgent situations, prompt action was essential, and we adhered to that! While the CAG report discusses numerical data, a committee made the decision to proceed with the PPE kit procurement. It is crucial to consider the broader context, especially the dire health emergency we faced,” remarked CM Vijayan.
On the approval given to the controversial company, Oasis Commercial Private Limited, whose senior executive is imprisoned due to the Delhi excise case, CM Vijayan clarified that there is no procedure for inviting industries to establish themselves in Kerala through a tendering process.
“Currently, there are brewery facilities operating in our state. This new initiative is expected to generate an investment of Rs 600 crore and create direct employment for 650 individuals, alongside over 2,000 indirect jobs. Local panchayat approval is not required since the state government is responsible for granting the clearance.
“Regarding the use of water resources, is it wrong to provide water for new industrial ventures? We will proceed with this project and any similar initiatives that arise,” added CM Vijayan.
Prominent Congress figures, including Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan and former leader Ramesh Chennithala, have continuously raised these allegations of corrupt dealings in the Assembly.
These leaders highlighted that the CAG report indicated that PPE kits available for Rs 550 each were not purchased, and instead, pricier alternatives were acquired at Rs 1,550 each, resulting in a loss of Rs 10 crore to the government.
Regarding the sanction for Oasis to establish an ethanol plant, a multi-feed distillation unit, an Indian-made foreign liquor bottling unit, a brewery, a malt spirit facility, and a brandy/winery plant at Kanjikode on a 26-acre site purchased two years ago, they claimed this was a clear violation of all regulations and detrimental to the water-scarce Palakkad district.
