UDF govt to probe steps taken by previous LDF govt in MSC Elsa 3 disaster, says VD Satheesan

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan has said that the state government intends to take the issue of environmental damage caused by the MSC Elsa 3 ship disaster very seriously.

The government would review the measures taken by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. If necessary, the government would amend an admiralty suit filed by the state government in court seeking compensation for environmental and economic damage caused by the incident, Mr Satheesan said after a special cabinet meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (May 25, 2026).

The chief minister’s remarks on the issue came on the first anniversary of the ship disaster.

The container-laden MSC Elsa 3 tipped to one side and sank about 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala during 24 May and 25 May 2025. As the wreckage has yet to be removed, fears of further environmental pollution are now renewed once the seas become rough during the southwest monsoon season. Mr. Satheesan said the incident has caused serious impact on the environment as well as losses to the fishing community.

Rising fuel prices

The Chief Minister said that the government is closely monitoring the increase in fuel prices and its possible impact on the common man. Repeated increase in fuel prices is preventing the state government from finalizing the decision. The finance ministry is closely monitoring the development and according to him the government will decide once a clear picture emerges on the tax hike, what will be the tax revenue and the impact on the common man.

Mr Satheesan described the recent bureaucratic reshuffle as a temporary administrative measure. The state was facing a shortage of IAS officers and the government was in the process of rationalizing the deployment of officers based on departmental needs. Relevant decisions will be finalized in the cabinet and the department of general administration. Mr. Satheesan was responding to questions about discontent in the government over the recent reshuffle.

The Chief Minister denied that his recent visit to the Guruvayur temple had disturbed other devotees. The Chief Minister said that only four people accompanied him. Mr Satheesan said he also entered the temple and bought a ticket worth ₹1,000.

Cabinet decision

An emergency cabinet meeting on Monday approved the political speech to be delivered by the Governor in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on May 29. It also approved the decision to appoint Apa John Joseph as the head of government in the assembly.

KC Vincent will be the new Additional Solicitor General. T. Asaf Ali, who has been appointed as the Director General of Public Prosecutions, will also be the Special Public Prosecutor of the Lok Ayukta and Public Prosecutor.

The cabinet also decided to convene a high-level meeting on preparations for the monsoon season at 10 am on Wednesday, Satheesan said. The meeting will be held online.

Published – 25 May 2026 22:03 IST