KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode Corporation Mayor A.K. Premajam has alleged foul play in not including Kozhikode in the list of the smart city projects by the centre.
Uttar Pradesh has 13 smart cities, Tamil Nadu 12 and Kerala just Kochi. Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode have been left out.
Kozhikode MP M.K. Raghavan also protested against excluding both cities from the list and sent fax message to the Prime Minister and the Urban Development Minister to review the list.
“Kozhikode deserves to be in the list as we are ahead in many areas, including effective waste management and eco-friendly projects. Our efforts were recognized by various agencies. We have also prepared and sent a documentary on those achievements,” Ms Premajam said.
“I suspect some foul play in the selection process,” she added. Mr Raghavan said that when even small cities were in the list, Kozhikode with historical and economical importance should not have been excluded.
“Though the state government had demanded inclusion of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode in the list, the ministry ignored it,” he said.
