Thiruvananthapuram, Oct. 29 -- The Kerala Assembly witnessed a sharp confrontation over the government's proposed Saral Bill to simplify industrial licences and clearances, with senior ruling-front leader and former minister G Sudhakaran warning that the legislation could threaten the state's paddy fields, wetlands and forests, prompting the Opposition to back his amendment proposal and stage a walkout.
The bill, intended to facilitate industrial investment by streamlining approval procedures, came under fire from both Sudhakaran and the Opposition, with concerns raised over the proposed decision-making mechanism and the adequacy of safeguards for environmentally sensitive land.
Sudhakaran, who recalled his participation in agitations to ...