Cabinet cancels Chakkittapara mining licence

Thiruvananthapuram: The Cabinet on Wednesday cancelled the permission granted to MSPL Ltd, a Karnataka-based company, for mining of iron ore at  Chakkittapara in Kozhikode district.

The decision comes in the wake of allegations that  former industries minister Elamaram Karim had taken bribe for granting administrative sanction for the project.  

However, at the cabinet briefing, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the decision was taken following a note submitted by the Industries Department seeking  cancellation of the order and also due to the centre's notification to ban mining activities in the area which has been designated as an environmentally sensitive zone by the Kasturirangan panel.

The cabinet also cancelled the permission for iron ore mining in two other places, Kakoor and Mavoor, in Kozhikode district.