A decision on the proposal by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to draw overhead cables and that of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to lay underground pipelines through the site of the proposed SmartCity Kochi will be reached after taking into account their implications for the project.
SmartCity Kochi authorities held discussions with the officials of the KSEB and GAIL at Infopark, near here, on Saturday.
Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Baju George, managing director of SmartCity (India), said the issue would be discussed with the master planner of the project.
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“Thereafter a decision on whether to permit the cables and pipeline in the original alignment or to recommend a shift in it will be taken jointly by taking into confidence all stakeholders,” Mr. George said.
He said while the demand by the two agencies was a fair one, the challenge was how to accommodate it without adversely affecting the SmartCity Kochi project. Mr. George said international companies might view it as a security threat.
He, however, said a decision need not wait till the completion of the master plan as it would take much time. “It can be taken at the stage of a concept master plan,” Mr. George said.
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He said SmartCity had in the past turned down about 100 acres of land belonging to Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation for the simple reason of security threat posed by overhead electric cables.
He said as long as the two agencies' proposals did not clash with the works of master planner, it would not be an issue, Mr. George said. He further said the proposals would not in anyway affect the launch of construction works planned shortly at the project site .
Padmanabha Pillai, Joint Secretary, State IT Department, was also present.