Kerala   

A knotty issue

It seems to be a war of nerves between the Government and the private consortium executing the Thiruvananthapuram City Roads Improvement Programme. After several rounds of discussion, the two sides are yet to come to an agreement on resuming work on the project, which was stalled following the delay in handing over the required land.

The Government had rejected outright, the demand of the Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL) for a compensation of Rs.120 crore to offset the idling cost of machinery and labour. The company threatened to pull out of the project and move the court to get the compensation awarded. But the Government decided not to yield to the pressure. Public Works Department officials are sending out signals that the project would be re-tendered but that still leaves the question of compensation undecided.

TRDCL later agreed to come down on their demand but the Government claims the new figure is still unaffordable. "Apparently, the Government is caught in a bind. No political leader or official wants to shoulder the responsibility of paying out a huge amount as compensation from the coffers," says a key functionary.

Amid all the claims and counter-claims, the public are wondering whether the project would be abandoned midway through. NGOs campaigning for the development of the city are now getting their resources together to organise a brainstorming session on how to untangle the knotty issue.

T. NANDAKUMAR

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