KOCHI: With the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) stating its inability to be a part of the first Marina in the country, at Kochi, the Tourism Department has decided to keep its options open on the project.

The CPT had stated its reluctance to be part of the project in which a private company (Trans Resource Corporation (TRC) of Malaysia) had a stake of 76 per cent. TRC's joint venture partner, Tourist Resorts Kerala Limited (TRKL), holds only 24 per cent stake in the Rs.50-crore Marina project aimed at creating berthing facilities for 60 yachts.

Sources said that the CPT cited certain rules of the Shipping Ministry whereby port trusts could not hand over land to ventures in which private parties have a majority stake.

Tourism Director B. Suman said the department was thinking of how to tackle the situation.

"We have kept all options open, including the possibility of looking for an alternative site if circumstances go against us. First, we have to identify the land that we can use to set up the Marina. The CPT is yet to communicate to us on the land that they were expected to hand over to us," he said.

Site

A week ago, chairman of the CPT N. Ramachandran and Principal Secretary, Tourism, E.K. Bharat Bhushan visited the eight-acre reclaimed by the CPT on the western side of the Bolghatty Island — the site where the Marina was proposed.

The CPT reportedly said that Rs.2.4 lakhs per acre was charged as annual lease money from public-sector companies. The amount would be hiked by five per cent every year and revised every 10 years. The rate for giving land to a private company would be much more.

Mr. Ramachandran said that the Shipping Ministry opposed the handing over of CPT land for the project stating that the land should not be given to a contractor on nomination.

"They insist on a transparent bidding. The Tourism Department had already carried out the bidding and entrusted the work to TRC. It will be legally impossible for us to embark on a joint venture owing to technical problems. We are working out a solution whereby the Tourism Department can independently go ahead with the project. We are willing to extend all logistics support."

He added that the port was willing to give some concessions on land rights.

"Just like the Tourism Department, we too want the marina to come up on the proposed site. Though we may not directly benefit from the project, the Marina will become a tourist attraction, which is in keeping with the CPT's interest," Mr. Ramachandran said.

MD, TRKL, P.K. Keshavan said the Marina needs more than five acres. The CPT has tentatively agreed to give eight acres of reclaimed land on a 30-year lease, he added.

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