Kochi corporation wants CM Pinarayi Vijayan to reconsider concession to Adani group
KOCHI: In an effort to resolve the stalemate over the low rate for road cutting for the city gas project by Adani Gas Pvt Ltd, an all party delegation from the city corporation will call on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Wednesday. The delegation led by mayor Soumini Jain will urge the Chief Minister to reconsider the decision taken by the state government to give a reduction in the restoration charge of roads to Adani Gas Pvt Ltd. The civic administration has raised apprehensions over the low rate fixed for road digging saying it would cause a huge loss to the corporation’s exchequer.
While on the one hand, the Kerala Water Authority, a public sector entity, which regularly cuts city roads for laying pipes, has been charged around Rs 5,930 per square metre of road, on the other, the state government has granted permission for road cutting to Adani Group at a rate of Rs.3,868 per square metre. As per the estimate, around 890 km of city roads will have to be cut for laying gas pipelines.
Meanwhile, the Opposition CPM is yet to take a decision on whether to join the all-party delegation. “Though the mayor urged me to be a part of the delegation, I am yet to get permission from the party district secretary without which I can’t go,” said K.J Antony, Opposition leader in the council.
“As the Opposition in the council, we want the project to be implemented without delay while ensuring that it doesn’t cause a huge loss to the civic body. The State government has given rate reduction to the Adani Group considering the public utility of the project. But, the move to give similar concessions to private telecom giants like Reliance Infocomm cannot be permitted. Such proposals would be strongly objected to,” added K. J. Antony. Usally, public entities and private agencies including telecom companies approach the Corporation for road cutting and the restoration rate is fixed on the basis of the decision taken in the corporation council.
