Kerala Govt. will hold direct consultations with (DSFC) in a final attempt to Smartcity Kochi

The State government will hold direct consultations with the Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee (DSFC) in a final attempt to find a solution to the stalemate over the proposed SmartCity Kochi project.

The move is considered a clear indication on the part of the government that it wants to take up the issue at the level of the Dubai government rather than talking to SmartCity, promoters of the project.

Talking to The Hindu over phone on Wednesday night, Registration Minister S. Sarma, who is also the chairman of SmartCity Kochi, confirmed reports of such a meeting soon.

He, however, said the date for the meeting was yet to be finalised. Some television channels had reported that a representative of the DSFC would visit the State to hold consultations with the Chief Minister next week.

Asked whether the meeting was a final attempt on the part of the government to take the project forward with the Dubai-based promoters, Mr. Sarma responded in the affirmative.

He said the meeting was an outcome of the mediatory talks held by government-appointed mediator and NoRKA Roots vice-chairman M.A. Yousuf Ali.

He said the government had informed the DSFC of its willingness for a meeting (to find a solution to the stalemate over the project).

Mr. Ali had, during the course of his mediation, held talks with Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer, Supreme Fiscal Committee member of the Dubai government, on December 23.

Mr. Sarma expressed optimism of holding the discussions in a friendly atmosphere and taking the project forward.

He, however, said the government was resolute about not compromising on the original framework agreement.

The meeting, he said, would seek a solution without deviating from the agreement. He reiterated that the government would not go back on its stand that freehold rights could not be granted to promoters with the right to sell the land.

Asked whether the government would insist that the entire 246 acres identified for the project be inside a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Mr. Sarma said that it was how the framework agreement perceived the project.

SmartCity CEO Fareed Abdulrahman, in his last press meeting, had said that there was no freehold within a SEZ hinting that the land over which they sought freehold rights should be outside the ambit of the SEZ.

Via