A public interest writ petition was filed on Friday in the Kerala High Court seeking a directive to the government to state the reasons for not starting the proposed Bolgatty project on the reclaimed land of the Cochin Port Trust.
In his petition, Shelson Antony of Elamkunnapuzha panchayat in Kochi said he moved the petition since the issue involved denial of tens of thousands of employment opportunities to the unemployed youth in the State.
The Cochin Port Trust had leased out nearly 27 acres of reclaimed land of the port trust to The Lulu Convention and Exhibition Private Ltd and its managing director M.A. Yusuff Ali for implementing a project envisaging setting up of hotels, resorts, convention centres, shopping malls and other allied activities. The petitioner, who described himself as an unemployed youth, said there were only few job opportunities in the State.
The petitioner said the project proposed at the land of the port had the sanction of competent authorities. It was due to political allegations that the project was going to be withdrawn.
The State government and the Industries Department had a duty to see that the project, which would generate a large number of employment opportunities, was implemented in public interest.
The petitioner sought a directive to the company to file a statement regarding the volume of employment opportunities to be created by the proposed project.
The petitioner also sought a directive to the Cochin Port Trust to file a report regarding the present status of the project.
