Jayarajan accuses UDF government of using KIIFB probe to stall development

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and party State secretariat member M.V. Jayarajan has accused the Congress-led UDF government in Keralam of using a Vigilance investigation into land acquisition for Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB) projects to obstruct development, particularly in Kannur.

He alleged that the government order dated October 30, 2026, selectively targeted land acquisition in Kannur, despite similar procedures having been followed in Palakkad under the same central legislation.

Speaking to reporters in Kannur on Sunday, Mr. Jayarajan said the government was undermining development projects worth nearly ₹60,000 crore that had received administrative approval, been tendered or were under construction through KIIFB. He said projects worth more than ₹40,000 crore had already been completed, including roads, bridges, school buildings, hospitals and government offices.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation into the procedures followed in acquiring 4,896 acres in Kannur at a cost of approximately ₹12,240 crore. The government order also refers to the acquisition of 470 acres in Palakkad, taking the total to 5,366 acres, with an estimated expenditure of ₹12,710 crore. However, Mr. Jayarajan questioned why the investigation was specifically directed at Kannur and why a special team had been constituted for the purpose.

He pointed out that Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar had informed the Assembly on October 29, in reply to a question, that the land in Kannur and Palakkad had been acquired under the central land acquisition law enacted in 2013. The land was acquired by special tahsildars for KIIFB and KINFRA projects.

According to the Minister’s reply, the compensation value was initially fixed through an order dated April 12, 2022. A subsequent order, however, provided for reductions of up to 80% from the basic value for land that had undergone physical changes, including areas previously subjected to quarrying.

Mr. Jayarajan said landowners had challenged the valuation in court. Following judicial directions, a committee appointed by the district administration examined the land, and the court accepted its report, he added.

“The Vigilance inquiry was politically motivated and intended to weaken KIIFB, which finances infrastructure projects because the State treasury lacks sufficient funds for large-scale development after meeting salary and pension commitments,” he said.

Mr. Jayarajan warned that the investigation could jeopardise several proposed projects in Kannur, including a 1,000-acre industrial park near Kannur International Airport, an education hub, and bridges and roads. He asked how the government intended to finance the remaining projects, noting that the Public Works Department alone had commitments of around ₹2,500 crore.

He demanded clarity on alternative funding arrangements and the future of projects already approved and awarded to contractors. He alleged that several Congress leaders had received compensation for acquired land. He challenged Congress leaders to clarify their position on the acquisition and say whether they would return the compensation if they believed the process was improper.

Mr. Jayarajan maintained that the KIIFB investigation was not merely a political dispute between the LDF and the UDF but a question concerning Keralam’s development. He urged the government to reconsider its decision and support ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects.