THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid mounting opposition pressure on the deep sea fishing controversy, the government has canceled a memorandum of understanding worth Rs 5,000 crore signed with American company EMCC. With this, the government withdrew from two MoUs with EMCC. Action is yet to be taken on the allotment of four acres of land at Cherthala Pallippuram.

KSIDC (Industrial Development Corporation) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth Rs 5,000 crore with the American company EMCC for deep-sea fishing on February 28 last year. Apart from the opposition, the government is withdrawing from the agreement without arguing any wrongdoing as fishermen and the Latin Church also opposed it. After consulting the Chief Minister, Industries Minister EP Jayarajan proposed to cancel the MoU.

On February 22, the government canceled a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Inland Navigation Corporation and EMCC for a Rs 2,950 crore trawler project on Feb 2. However, the government has not taken a decision on the cancellation of the four acres allotment by the Industries Department to EMCC at Pallippuram on the 3rd of this month. According to the government, only the allotment letter has been issued in this regard and the land has not been transferred after collecting Rs 5.49 crore from the EMCC. But since the land price has not been paid yet, it is likely to be reconsidered.

5000 crore deep sea investment

KSIDC MD Rajamanikyam and EMCC International India Pvt Ltd President Shiju Methratayil Varghese signed a memorandum of understanding worth Rs 5,000 crore.

Under this, it was agreed to co-operate for the comprehensive development of the deep sea fishing industry in the state and to invest Rs. 5,000 crore in this sector. The government had said the MoU would only last for six months, but as a follow-up, another MoU was signed this month and the land was allotted.

The Opposition has demanded the cancellation of all government interventions in the deep sea fishing industry. The UDF has called for a coastal hartal on the 27th to protest the government's move.