Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress on Monday alleged
that Chief Minister Narendra Modi had taken the head of
Gujarat Environment and Protection Infrastructure Company Ltd
(GEPIL), found to be a "polluting entity" earlier, to China
with him, while the government categorically denied the
charge.
"GEPIL has been found to be a polluting entity. It was
a company which was taking money from industries and the
government for treating polluting effluents, but in reality it
was found to be discharging the effluents without treatment
into the sea off Surat district," Gujarat Congress chief Arjun
Modhvadia said.
During Modi`s recent visit to China, Girish Luthra,
owner of GEPIL, was with him, Modhvadia said.
"The airfare for the China trip of the Chief Minister was
provided by Luthra," Modhvadia further alleged.
State acted against GEPIL only after people of 25
villages in the area protested, he said.
However, Gujarat government`s spokesperson and minister
of state for industry, Saurbah Patel, said, "Girish Luthra or
no official of GEPIL was present in the team of businessmen
that had gone to China with the Chief Minister. This is a
greatest lie of opposition. Government challenges Modhvadia
to prove his claim or accept that he is a biggest liar."
Patel also said that there was no question of not taking
actions against GEPIL as it had been served closure notice for
polluting the seawater.
PTI
