The Hindu : Kerala News : Cabinet to consider sops for Smart City

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Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Cabinet to consider sops for Smart City

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 25. The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, said here on Wednesday that the Cabinet would take decisions on various concessions sought by the Dubai Internet City for the Smart City Project in Kochi, at its next meeting.

Talking to mediapersons after today's Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said that concessions offered in the Information Technology policy of the State would be extended to Smart City. The Info Park, developed by the State Government, would be transferred to the Internet City for actual value of the land and infrastructure.

Mr. Chandy parried questions on whether the concessions under the IT policy were being extended to those developing the infrastructure for Smart City or the IT companies who would start their units in the City. He also did not disclose who would actually be creating the 33,000 jobs promised by the Internet City authorities.

Land acquisition

Denying reports that fast track projects had not progressed at the desired pace, the Chief Minister said that land acquisition had exceeded the target. He said it had been 95 days since five projects were included in the fast track project. The target for this period was acquisition of land for 38 project segments totalling 141.15 acres. Against this, 166.42 acres for 51 segments had been acquired.

Mr. Chandy said he did not want to go into the controversy over the investigation of the Suryanelli sex racket case during the LDF rule. The controversy had brought several things into public view and the people could respond to them. The Government had not discussed or taken any decision on any inquiry into the matter. It would not be possible to look into everything that had happened during the LDF rule. However, such situations would not be allowed during the UDF rule.

He said the delay in completing the investigation into the Kiliroor case was owing to the decision to hand over the case to the CBI. The decision was taken in view of the demand by the Opposition and others.

Mr. Chandy parried questions on the Congress leader, M.P. Gangadharan's criticism of the Government at a press conference here on Monday. However, with reference to senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran's remarks denigrating the Government, Mr. Chandy said that it was for the people to comment on his Government's performance.

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