Assembly to conduct debate over Rangan report

Thiruvananthapuram: Speaker G. Karthikeyan has a The Assembly will debate the Kasturirangan committee report on Thursday, Speaker G. Karthikeyan  announced on Wednesday.

The decision was taken as part of the agreement reached between the Opposition and the ruling front to end the stalemate over the issue. The LDF members earlier disrupted the proceedings in the Assembly seeking a debate on the report.

CPM parliamentary party deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who raised the issue, said that the advocate of the centre had stated before the National Green Tribunal that the order restricting industrial activities and mining in Ecologically Sensitive Areas  was still relevant.  

Earlier, seven Opposition MLAs led by E.S. Biji Mol climbed  the Speaker's podium while others belonging to the LDF moved to the well of the House demanding a debate on the issue.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that  he would  apprise the central government of  the state's stand during his visit to Delhi.