Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the SmartCity issue. The chairman of the chamber, K.M. Abdulla, said the execution of the project is significant as it symbolises the investment culture of the State. The government should seek the cooperation of the Opposition to evolve a consensus on the project instead of making it an object of political controversy, he said.
The government is apparently trying to establish that it is protecting the interests of the State while the Opposition has gone on record that two ‘SmartCity' will be set up once it attains power. The chamber is of the opinion that both the government and the Opposition should arrive at a decision with a view to executing the project.
Far-reaching impact
Any move to abandon the project would have far-reaching impact on the economy of the State. Foreign investors would be reluctant to invest in Kerala and the non-resident Indians working in Gulf countries would face job insecurity.
The pros and cons of the project could be discussed at an all-party meet, he said. The SmartCity episode will be a very important indicator as to whether the State is investor-friendly, he said.
