Posted on December 12, 2024
Kerala is not averse to discussing any new project with the Adani group and will do so only if there is a “win-win” situation which benefits the people of the state as well, a senior state minister has said.
However, the southern state is not keen to have any big industries which will cause pollution and ecological damage, P Rajeev, the Minister of Law, Industries and Coir, told PTI.
The comments from the minister come even as there seems to be some unease among southern states when it comes to dealing with the Adani group, especially after the second richest Indian Gautam Adani and others faced charges of bribing officials to secure contracts.
Rajeev said Kerala has a big investment from the Adani group in the Vizhinjam Seaport near its capital Thiruvananthapuram and added that the current government decided to go ahead with the project signed by the predecessors only because the benefits accrued to the state and its people through the ambitious transshipment port.
He also clarified that the government is against giving any special incentives and wants to operate on its conditions.
Replying to a specific question on what changes after the Adani indictment in the US, he said, “We are working with them, we are not giving that much incentives, a win-win position should be there. It should create employment opportunities, (get) more revenue to the state.” When quizzed if the state will continue to engage with the Adani group even for newer projects, Rajeev said the government is open to “discuss with them”, but made it clear that certain areas like privatisation in the electricity or water distribution space are strict no-go areas.
He also reminded that while the Kerala government works with the Adani group on the “gamechanger” Vizhinjam port, it also opposes the group in other projects like the move to hand over the operations of the international airport located just 15 km away from the port to the billionaire’s group.
