Kerala is a country where there is no shortage of industrial enterprises that get caught up in the strings of procedures and die before they are born. He does not hesitate to discourage those who come forward to start a venture and do whatever it takes to make it a habit. This is especially the case for industrial enterprises proposed to be set up under the aegis of the Central and State Governments. Two days ago, we reported that the State Industries Department's plan to set up an electric autorickshaw manufacturing unit on 120 acres of land in Kalyassery - Pappinisseri panchayats in Kannur district was thwarted in a land dispute. The 120 acres of land in Iranavu in these two panchayats have been lying fallow for years. The land was acquired by the government after evicting the locals to start a business. The first project was to start a thermal power plant with Keltron founder and visionary KPP Nambiar. When E.K. When Nayanar was the Chief Minister, steps were taken for that. Nayanar took great interest but the project had to be abandoned due to opposition from the locals.
Next, the Central Department of Defense's eyed the land for the establishment of the Coast Guard Academy when the land in Iranavu had been lying fallow for fifteen years.. This happened when A K Antony was the defence minister. Those who dreamed of opening a new development route for the Coast Guard Academy in Iran, like the Naval Academy in Ezhimala, were disappointed. Antony himself laid the foundation stone for the Coast Guard Academy, but nothing happened later. When the NDA came to power in the elections, the academy went to Karnataka.

Kerala has given 120 acres of land in Iranavu to the Centre to start an academy. In case the academy is not established, the land should be returned to the state. That was the condition when the land was transferred. The move to use the space for an electric autorickshaw manufacturing unit was made in 2016. This was done when E.P. Jayarajan was the Industries Minister. The unit was to be started as a government-private enterprise. But there was also a setback.
As the Center was unwilling to give back the land, the industrial unit which was supposed to provide direct and indirect employment to many people was not born. The Industries Department explained that the Center had refused to return the land despite repeated requests. Land is one of the most precious resources in Kerala today. Efforts to get it back from the centre should be intensified. If there is no intention to withdraw from the proposed electric autorickshaw manufacturing project, it should be installed here. Determination is important.