Thiruvananthapuram: The SmartCity Kochi could be fully operational by 2021 and steps for time-bound completion of the project would be taken at the director board meeting on August 6, Chief Minister Mr Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Assembly on Tuesday. The SmartCity officials, who called on him here last week, had assured its completion before 2020.
In reply to questions in the Assembly, he said the chief secretary was regularly monitoring its progress. Fort Kochi sub-collector was appointed as nodal officer to supervise remaining works. Though the first phase of 6.5 lakh square feet could generate only 5,500 jobs, the government had not made any evaluation. The framework agreement would be published on the government website.
WELFARE-LINKED ENROLMENT SCHEME FOR MIGRANTS
Labour minister T. P. Ramakrishnan said his department would soon launch a welfare-linked enrolment system for migrant workers. It has a helpline for migrants, and it will create their data bank with the cooperation of local bodies to ensure better service and pay conditions, he said in reply to a calling attention.
It would also extend 'Apna Ghar' housing scheme launched in Palakkad to other districts. Only 53,136 migrants had enrolled during an earlier attempt while a study by Gulati Institute estimated their number at 25 lakh.
CM's ASSISTANCE DUE
Mr Vijayan informed the House that 29,930 people are yet to get assistance, of Rs 36.4 crore, from Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. In a written reply, he said 7,823 employees had retired on May 31 and 1,198 vacancies were reported to PSC from June 1 to 10.
