Land acquisition for Technocity begins

Thiruvananthapuram: The process of land acquisition for the proposed ‘Technocity’ project in Thiruvananthapuram has been initiated.

The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, said in State Assembly on Tuesday that of the 507 acres of land identified for the project, draft declaration had been published for 205 acres and the work in respect of survey of the remaining 302 acres, after discussions with the land-owners was progressing at a brisk pace. The Technocity project is envisaged as the fourth phase of development of the existing Technopark.

Replying to questions, he said that Technocity would encompass projects that have huge development potential such as information technology, biotechnology and knowledge-based industries. Meanwhile, the acquisition of 100 acres of land for the third phase of development of Technopark is nearing completion.

Centres for excellence

In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said that the State had submitted proposals to various Union Ministries for financial assistance to start Centres for Excellence in different fields. The proposals are for centres in geomatics and environment management, inland fisheries, life sciences and taxonomy.

Of them, the centre for excellence in geomatics and environment has been approved in principle, he added.

The Industries Minister, Mr Elamaram Kareem, informed the House that investors’ meets had so far been held in five districts: Kannur, Kasaragod, Thrissur, Kottayam and Malappuram.

At these meets, the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) had received investment proposals of Rs 1,250 crore in Kannur, Rs 407 crore in Kasaragod, Rs 576 crore in Kottayam, Rs 139.50 crore in Thrissur and Rs 21 crore in Malappuram.

More proposals

Besides, the Kerala State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) received proposals worth Rs 55.50 crore in Kasaragod, Rs 750 crore in Kottayam, Rs 27.83 crore in Thrissur and Rs 6 crore in Malappuram.

In reply to a question, Mr Kareem said that since assuming office, the Government had worked towards enhancing central investment in the State’s public sector. For one, the process of capital investment in Transformers and Electricals Kerala Ltd (TELK) by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is in the final stage.

Similarly, it had been announced in the railway budget that a railway wagon manufacturing facility would be established at Autokast and SILK Fabrication Unit at Alappuzha. The proposal for investment by the Department of Defence in the Hitech Industries in Thiruvananthapuram is also at an advanced stage, the Minister said.