: Delay in land acquisition has confined to paper the Global Ayurveda Village, initiated jointly by the Tourism, Health and Industries departments with private participation.
The Rs.193-crore project is aimed at making Kerala the global capital of Ayurveda. Of the 28.19 hectares needed for the project, only 2.9 hectares in Thonakkal has been acquired one year after the foundation stone was laid. The process of acquisition of the remaining 25.2 hectares in Elakamon grama panchayat, near Varkala, is yet to gain momentum.
Only four dwelling units are located on the land identified, which has 1.25-km lake frontage. The inordinate delay in enacting laws under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 is said to be the main hurdle to the project.
The village was mooted by Sam Pitroda, chairman of the National Innovation Council, who identified Ayurveda as one of the key areas of potential development.
The project had secured the government’s administrative sanction for execution under the PPP mode, official sources told The Hindu .
Fund lapses
The Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) is the nodal agency and the detailed project report was prepared by APITCO. A sum of Rs.5 crore was announced in the 2012-13 Budget, which got lapsed.
In the 2014-15 Budget, Rs.3 crore had again been provided for the project.
A Kinfra official said steps for 4(1) notification for acquisition of the remaining land have commenced. The processing of the financial bid for constructing the compound wall at Thonakkal is on. A special purpose vehicle is also to be set up.
Union Minister for Health J.P. Nadda will be approached for support from the Department of Ayush.
Vision Varkala Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., the special purpose vehicle set up for developing Varkala, has been pressing for the project as it would be a boost to the tourism sector.
Of the 28.19 ha needed, only 2.9 ha has been acquired
Foundation stone was laid a year ago
