Smart City pact to stay, says CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first phase of the much hyped Smart City project will be completed by October 31, 2012. There will be no change in the existing agreement with the TECOM authorities, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after his discussions with the officials of the Dubaibased investment group.However, the Chief Minister made it clear that the Central SEZ rule will be applicable for the project.The previous LDF Government had made an agreement which was against the Centre's SEZ policy.However, it had only given assurances. Hence, the government has decided not to go ahead with these assurances, Chandy said."The UDF Government is not ready to delay the project further by making more changes in the agreement. The UDF wants to make this project a reality," he told reporters after the talks.As per the SEZ status, 50 percent of the project area will be utilised for IT purposes and the remaining area for nonIT purposes.However, the LDF Govt had reached an agreement with the TECOM for having 70 percent of the builtup area for the IT services and the remaining for the nonIT purposes.The project site will be declared as industrial township and for this TECOM authorities will be filing an application within 10 days.Apart from the existing 246 acres of land, four acres of land belonging to KINFRA will also be handed over to the Smart City project.Apart from the CM, TECOM Chief Executive Officer Abdul Latif Ali, Smart City MD Baju George, chief negotiator M A Yusuf Ali, Industry Minister P K Kunhalikutty, Excise Minister K Babu and Indsutry Secretary T Balakrishnan were also present during the talks.Industry Minister P K Kunhalikutty has been made chairman of the Smart City in the director board meeting. Industry Secretary T Balakrishnan will be the director board member.The CM will be the patron of the Smart City. The resignations of former minister S Sharma (chairman) and former IT secretary K Suresh Kumar (board member) have been accepted.