Ker CM urges Centre not to shift proposed Coast Guard Academy

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today requested the Centre to abandon its move to shift the proposed Indian Coast Guard Academy from Kannur district of the state.

Vijayan, who called on Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, apprised her about the state's concern in this regard, a release from the chief minister's office said here.

During the meeting, Vijayan informed the union minister that adequate land was handed over for the project at Irinavu near the Ezhimala Naval Academy at Kannur in 2011.

The then Defence minister had also laid the foundation stone for the coast guard academy, he said.

However, the Environment Ministry is yet to give clearance to the much-awaited project citing Coastal Regulation Zone notification.

The chief minister said as per the recent amendments to the CRZ notification, defence projects of national importance can be given permission.

In this backdrop, the defence minister should intervene to review the environment ministry's earlier decision to shift the project, Vijayan said.

The chief minister also promised all support to the Centre to set up the coast guard academy at Kannur, the release added.

An all-party delegation led by Vijayan is in Delhi to discuss various issues concerning the state.

The delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.