Kozhikode: Industries Department on Monday cancelled the permission granted to a Karnataka-based company, MSPL, to set up an iron ore mining company at Chakkittappara village in Kozhikode district. This follows the controversy over mining in an area declared as ecologically sensitive by the Kasturirangan report.
BJP leader K. Surendran had alleged that Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, former minister and CPM leader Elamaram Karim and MSPL had colluded to set up the company.
Karim denied the charges and said that only the union government had the authority to grant permission while Kunhalikutty feigned ignorance about the project. Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran had also demanded cancellation of the permit.
Surendran said the government should also withdraw the permission given to the company for mining in Kakkkur in the district.
The state government had leased 406 hectares of land belonging to the Plantation Corporation of Kerala to MSPL for a 30-year period. The Industries Department terminated the agreement saying that it was signed by the previous LDF government.
