The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : UDF move will scuttle SmartCity project: Sarma

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UDF move will scuttle SmartCity project: Sarma

Special Correspondent

Kochi: The former Registration Minister S.Sarma on Saturday said the UDF government's moves would only sabotage the SmartCity project.

At a press conference, he said the agreement signed by the previous LDF government with Tecom, promoters of the project, did not envisage it as a multi-services special economic zone.

In fact, the agreement was signed after Tecom endorsed the conditions specified in the pact.

Therefore, the attempt of the UDF government now to set up a multi-service SEZ had created suspicion in people's mind. He said the LDF government had taken steps to transfer 246 acres on the basis of the agreement. He pointed out that the Central government had granted SEZ status only for 136 acres though the LDF government had sought SEZ status for the entire land.

The UDF government was now following the Central government's policy on special economic zones which was deeply rooted in the globalisation principles.

The LDF government had formulated a SEZ policy which gave more emphasis on protection of the interests of the State.

As per the policy, 70 per cent of the land allotted in the SEZ should be utilised for the purpose for which it had been allotted. The present UDF move would set a bad precedent. The new policy of the UDF would only serve the interests of corporates, multinationals, and real estate dealers.

He said it was not known whose interest the UDF wanted to protect by it dubious moves. The motives behind the moves still remained a mystery. He said with the land getting the status of a multi-service SEZ, only 50 per cent of the land (around 125 acres) need be utilised for information technology requirements. Thus, there would be a drastic reduction in the employment opportunities in the IT sector.

In fact, such moves would affect the basic structure of the SmartCity project.

He urged Chief Minster Oommen Chandy and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty to come out with more clarifications on the issue.

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