A project that arrived 4 years late went through an irrational and irresponsible delay. How it hindered growth is a different story. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s claim that the SmartCity project is being implemented without the company getting the selling rights for the allotted land is igniting a scandal on its own.

The project materialized following the allocation of 49.2 acres of land for non-industrial/commercial purposes. The 2008 Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) mandates 70% land allocation for industrial purposes and 30% for non-industrial purposes (in industrial parks and other SEZ factors). The Chief Minister’s intervention and the subsequent allocation of 49.2 acres are in gross violation of the policy statement.

The SmartCity dropped its demand for 29 acres of land (on a no-terms basis) after getting the 49.2 acres. Allocation of land on no-terms basis was reportedly the sole impediment in the implementation of the project for over four years. There was no SEZ status for the land in initial project prepared by the LDF government. The proposal was to allot 88% on lease and 12% on no-terms basis. The move to allot land to the company with selling rights had invited public wrath and it was dropped.

The CPM had opposed all SEZ projects initially. When other State’s reaped benefits from the Centre’s SEZ projects, Kerala showed no interest. Following this, the LDF, in 2008, formulated a 11-point SEZ policy. It was clearly stated on earlier occasions that the SmartCity project would be governed by the norms laid down in the policy.

The State government should come clear on the implications of labour laws, reclamation of paddy fields and the Panchayati Raj Act on the implementation of the SmartCity project. The materialization of the SmartCity project is the outcome of a generous quota of freebies and incentives.

The Chief Minister had recently admitted in the Assembly that over 60 acres of land had been allotted to private players at Infopark, Kochi. The government had earlier stated that it would be retained in the public domain. All the government did was to delay the project by over 4 years by raising allegations and non-issues.