Talks on Smart City IT park enters final stage

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 18 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said talks on the Smart City IT project in Kochi was in the final stages and a decision on it would be taken in the next Cabinet meeting.

Briefing mediapersons here after a Cabinet meeting, he said an agreement had been reached on almost all the issues regarding the IT Park with the Dubai-based Technology and Media Free Zone (TECOM).

Stating that transparency would be maintained in the deal with TECOM, Mr Achuthanandan said the talks were positive. However, he was reluctant to share some of the issues that were sorted out with the Dubai company.

When asked about the free hold over the land, he said it would be known soon.

The Cabinet also decided to acquire 2,000 acres of land for the Kannur airport. The project would be on the model of the Cochin International Airport. It also decided to give 10 acres of land for the Ezhimala Naval Academy, the Chief Minister said.

On the proposal for the formation of new taluks, he said it would be discussed in the Cabinet and a decision would be taken only after discussing it at the Left Democratic Front meeting. The demand for the formation of new taluks had come from many quarters, including the MLAs, he said and added that the Babu Paul Commission and Somasundaram Commission had recommended new taluks.

Even during the United Democratic Front rule, the Alphonse Kannanthanam report had recommended the creation of five more taluks, he added.

Asked about the Kerala High court quashing the Puthussery Panchayat's order cancelling the license given to the Pepsico India Holdings, Mr Achuthanandan said the government stood with the Panchayat in regard to exploitation of ground water.

Regarding the High Court order that the Panchayat had no jurisdiction under the Panchayati Raj Act in the matter of issuing or cancelling license as the factory was situated in an industrial area, he said all these would be looked into and a decision would be taken after consulting the experts.

The Cabinet had also decided to give financial assistance of Rs two lakh and a job to the wife of police constable V Rajan, who died on duty.

The families of four children, who drowned at Nilamboor, would be provided with Rs 30,000 each and a financial assistance of Rs 30,000 each would be given to the parents of the children, who were killed during the Malayatur pilgrimage, he added.

UNI