The proposed Kochi Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (KMRDA) received a fresh impetus on Monday when Minister for Urban Development Manjalamkuzhi Ali said the government was in favour of the proposal in response to a calling attention motion moved by Ernakulam MLA Hibi Eden in the Assembly.
Quoting the 74th Constitutional amendment, the minister said a designated area with a population in excess of 10 lakh, falling within the limits of one or more districts, and intertwined with two or more cities and panchayats could be notified as a metropolitan area. He said the government had forwarded the draft proposal moved by the Greater Cochin Development Authority for the consideration of the Chief Town Planner. While the draft had proposed a KMRDA covering 4,574 sq.m accounting for 46 lakh people, the chief town planner submitted a report to the government reducing the expanse of KMRDA to 2,033 sq.m and 35 lakh people that also covered people of Mala, Kodungalloor, Angamaly, Perumbavur, Piravom, Kolenchery, Thalayolapparambu, Vaikom, and Cherthala.
Mr. Ali said district boundaries would be inconsequential in the formation of the authority and the State government could take a decision to that effect without consulting the Central government.
