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The State Cabinet has resolved to take a serious view of the latest controversy over the Kochi Metro project triggered from within the administration.
Tom Jose, principal secretary, public works, will be asked to explain his unsolicited act of writing a letter to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
KNOWN POSITION
The Cabinet will wait to hear from Jose before deciding on a course of action against him, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told newspersons here on Monday.
The State Government has reiterated that DMRC with E. Sreedharan as principal adviser will be the implementing agency of the Kochi Metro project.
Jose was earlier the managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRL) but had to cede his position following a similar but minor controversy.
Jose chose to write the letter to DMRC well after he was relieved from KMRL seeking to know Sreedharan’s exact role in the Kochi project.
His letter was addressed to Sudhir Krishna, chairman, DMRC, and secretary, department of urban development.
TRIGGER POINT
This was the trigger for the latest controversy, with the Chief Minister joining his Cabinet colleagues to disown Jose’s action.
The Cabinet was unilateral in its condemnation of the act, which it observed ran counter to the State Government’s known position on the matter.
At the meeting held here on Monday, Transport Minister Aryadan Mohammed is known to have lambasted Jose for his ‘unprovoked action.’
This amounted to gross indiscipline and grave contravention of the code of ethics on the part of the official who was well aware of Sreedharan’s role in the Kochi project.
TO WRITE TO CENTRE
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that he would write separately to the Prime Minister and Kamal Nath, Union Minister for Urban Development.
If needed, he would travel to New Delhi to meet them and argue Kochi Metro’s case for being fast-tracked for implementation under DMRC and advised by Sreedharan.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has said that the State Government would institute an inquiry into the letter controversy.
The State Government had already made known its policy decision in the matter of work relating to Kochi Metro and this has been articulated several times over by the Chief Minister.
> vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in
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