The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Hidden aspects of the deal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Hidden aspects of the deal

P. Venugopal

Is Smart City a real estate deal in the guise of IT development?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Is the Smart City project a real estate deal in the guise of IT infrastructure development, as is being alleged by those sceptical about the intentions of its promoters?

The answer to this question is present in the `wish list' the promoters, the Dubai Internet City (DIC), have given to the State Government while negotiating the terms under which they want to start the project in Kochi suburbs.

A key condition they have put forward is that "No activity that will bring down the value of the land should be allowed in an area defined to be 2 km from the boundary of the Smart City."

Why be so concerned about the `value of the land' if it is not, after all, a real estate deal in the fundamental sense?

The DIC also demands that all infrastructure development for the region surrounding Smart City extending up to 2 km away from its boundaries should "follow certain minimum standards." The State Government, in its response to the demand, assures the DIC that it "will consider the opinion of Smart City in all future infrastructure developments" in the region.

Can any State Government belonging to the Indian Federal Democratic System functioning under a written Constitution that assures equal rights to every one of its citizens - whether rich, poor or disabled - give such a commitment to any company? The assurance is tantamount to saying that the Government is ready to go by the DIC's opinion on what and what not it will permit the ordinary citizens residing in the area to do.

It also means that a Government voted to office by the people, pledged to work for their welfare and prosperity without being influenced by external considerations and external vested interests, is making a promise to abide by the views of the DIC on what it will or will not do for the people of the area.

The DIC wants Smart City to function virtually as a privileged sovereign territory of its own with powers to even dictate the terms under which the world surrounding it should function and look like. Up in its `wish list' is the demand that Smart City should be made a separate local administration unit outside the purview of any local body. No building tax, land tax and other State taxes and local body taxes should be applicable in this sovereign territory. The people of this sovereign territory even want an exclusive "passenger check in counter in Smart City for passengers of Cochin Airport" (so that they would not have to rub shoulders with the populace lining up at the ordinary counter at the airport).

The security aspect of having such a check in counter at a place far removed from the airport, with an open public road providing the link, is a different issue altogether. But the State Government assures the DIC that it "will extend all assistance" in fulfilling this wish.

Yet another demand: "No future change in law or any new law or regulations will be formulated, which will adversely affect the Smart City, its benefits or its operation... "

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala