Following a petition seeking a CBI probe into awarding of the Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd project, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Adani Group and others.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and former Ports Minister K Babu have also been issued notices.
The petition has been filed by MK Salim of Kollam, who has also sought a court-monitored probe.
Calling it one-sided, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had found that the state’s interests were not protected when the deal was signed, Salim submitted in court.
The CAG report mentioned that the standard concession period was only 30 years, extendable by another 20 years, but the current deal stipulated it as 40 years.
Adani Group would be able to collect another Rs 29,217 crore and a total of more than Rs 60,000 crore if it was extended by another 20 years, as per the current stipulation.
Earlier on January 19 this year, Santosh Mahapatra, the CEO of the controversy-ridden Vizhinjam port project had resigned from his position citing personal reasons.
However, sources claimed that he was unhappy with the slow progress of the project.
It was also reported that the project has come to a standstill due to the non-availability of granite. This additional roadblock is expected to cause further delay in the project which was initiated with clear deadlines with the first phase stipulated to be completed by December 2019.
In October 2017, there were protests by the local population over delayed compensation. Further they added that after piling works began, several houses located away from the port site developed cracks, affecting the local fishing community.
Seven time legislator, PC George, who was also present at the protests, even claimed that the project was cleared without a proper environment impact study and many areas around the coastline have been eroded due to the project.