Kochi: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob has started pushing for an early start to the Electronic Park at Amballoor in Ernakulam district though in a scaled down much to the chagrin of the Industries department.
It is understood that Mr Jacob, who represents the region in the Assembly, is pressuring the Industries department for an early phase for the project as the Assembly election is hardly a year away.
The department of Industries has initiated the process to get funding from the Rs 2,000-crore infrastructure fund announced in the last year’s budget.
The minister, however, has suggested that the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), the nodal agency for the project, start the land acquisition process with the Rs 13 crore it has already deposited with the land acquisition Tahsildar.
“If the minister’s wish is granted, then the park, originally planned on 300 acres, will start on a 10-acre plot,” an official familiar with the developments said. “This will be a shame and will not help the project or the state.”
Meanwhile, KSIDC authorities have completed the identification of the plots to be purchased for the project and handed over a detailed sketch to the land acquisition tahsildar.
The report of the tahsiladar will be sent to the State-Level Monitoring Committee for approval. Once the committee gives its nod, the district collector will start negotiations with land owners. The process is expected to be completed in four months.
