Even while Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) authorities hope that they may be able to buy time from the Union government for implementing projects under SmartCity until March 31, 2020, many of the projects included in the scheme are entangled in controversies.
Rows have cast shadow on many of the projects like the Rs 166-crore vacuum sewage project, the Rs 21-crore project to construct apartment complex for slum dwellers, the Rs 310-crore intelligent street poles project and the Rs 100-crore Ernakulam market renovation project.
In fact, the deadline for beginning all works under SmartCity project was December 31, 2019. Now, the authorities hope that the Union government will grant an extension until March 31, 2020. Due to protests from local residents, CSML authorities are unable to go ahead with the project.
The sewage project aims at collecting and treating sewage from all the households and other establishments in five divisions of Kochi corporation at Mattancherry and Fort Kochi areas.
“We had awarded the work to a firm and they had started initial work. When the firm conducted soil inspection at the proposed site for the plant near Fort Kochi Taluk Hospital they had to stop the work due to the protests by local residents. It is a project which is beneficial to the residents. But they fear that the project will contaminate their drinking water sources if the pipes carrying sewage leaks,” an official with CSML said.
“But the fact is that the plant works on vacuum system. Using the force of vacuum the waste is drawn into the plant through the pipelines. If there is any leak in the pipeline, the system will stop,” the official said.
“We had held three rounds of talks with the residents and authorities of hospitals and schools. Now, MLA, mayor and councillors have agreed to convene a meeting of the residents for convincing them,” the official said. “If we lose the project, chances are least for us to get another round of funding for sewage project from the Centre,” the official said.
Even while CSML authorities hope that they may be able to buy time from the Union government for implementing projects under SmartCity until March 31, 2020, many of the projects included in the scheme are entangled in controversies
Similarly, the Ernakulam market renovation is in limbo due to unavailability of land for rehabilitating the merchants. “The land we identified for rehabilitating the merchants from the market is entangled in a legal dispute. Now, we plan to move the high court where a case over ownership of the land is pending. If high court allows our plea, we will be able to go ahead with the project,” said an official associated with the project.
Another SmartCity project which has run into trouble is the construction of a ground-plus-eleven-storeyed apartment complex at Fort Kochi for rehabilitating slum dwellers. The plan is to complete the construction of the apartment complex at a cost of Rs 21 crore from SmartCity funds. But, the project is already mired in controversy. Originally, the project was designed and proposed to be implemented by Kochi corporation. Though the original cost of the project was Rs 14 crore, later it was increased to Rs 18 crore citing inclusion of additional features in the structure. Mayor Soumini Jain gave anticipatory approval for the contractor to withdraw security deposit of Rs 91.22 lakh after the contractor completed the work on the basement and half of the ground floor.
The security deposit should have been given back only after completing the entire work and getting necessary certificates stating that the work on the building is satisfactory. Now, an inquiry by performance audit wing of the state government into the case is pending. Moreover, the opposition in the corporation council has lodged a complaint seeking vigilance inquiry into the matter.
