Opposition urges Govt. to ensure setting up of Smart City

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 5 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy today urged the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state to take necessary steps to ensure the setting up of the Smart City project in Kochi.

Welcoming discussions the government had with representatives of the Dubai Internet City (DIC), promoters of the project, he told a news conference that the government initiative was a welcome step and he was happy about it.

Mr Chandy said it seemed that there had been a change in the stand of the LDF government towards the project. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had been consistently opposing the project while he was the Leader of the Opposition. It was a good gesture that his government now took the initiative to have discussion with the DIC on the project. The government should take followup measures to ensure the setting up of the project.

Claiming that the project was a baby of the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government, he said the draft agreement prepared by it on the project was absolutely transparent and it had made no offers to the DIC outside the IT policy of the government.

Asked about the exclusion of the government-owned Infopark in Kochi from the new conditions put by the LDF government, Mr Chandy said he did not want to make any statement blocking the project.

The stand of the previous UDF government was that the project would not come up unless the Infopart was given to the DIC.

On the professional college issue, Mr Chandy said the government should take immediate steps to end the stalemate by holding discussion with the college managements. The present situation should not be allowed to continue as it would affect the future of students aspiring for professional courses.

Expressing serious concern over the increased incidents of custodial deaths in the state, Mr Chandy urged the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to take immediate action against those responsible for them.

UNI PMM1844