Smart City CEO comes to get drunk: Achutnanandan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Even as the deadlock between the Kerala government and Smart City Dubai continued over the fate of the proposed Rs.1,500 crore Kochi project, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan vented his anger saying that Smart City CEO Fareed Abdulrahman comes to the state “to get drunk”.

Abdulrahman had said earlier Friday that arbitration would be the company’s last resort to end the prolonged delays.

Achuthanandan was reacting to questions from reporters over the project’s delay.

“He (Smart City Dubai and Smart City Kochi CEO Fareed Abdulrahman) comes to Kerala to get drunk. He never informs the state government on issues that the government has to be informed. In a week’s time, we will take a final decision on the project,” said the chief minister.

This is not the first time that Achuthanandan has made curt remarks against Smart City Dubai. On one occasion, he said the company had gone broke due to the global recession and that was the cause for the delay.

The 23rd board meeting of Smart City Kochi was held in Kochi earlier Friday, which completed proceedings in only 20 minutes with no decision taken on the contentious issue of giving 12 percent free hold rights to Smart City Dubai - the builders of the project.

In the post-meeting press conference, the two parties continued to stick to their respective stands.

“What matters to us is to maintain good relations and hence we expect that a solution will come out. The question of going legal or to an arbitrator is our last resort,” said Abdulrahman.

He also clarified that UAE-based businessman M.A. Yousuf Ali, who held talks with them, is not a mediator but only a government representative.

However, Smart City Kochi chairman and State Fisheries Minister S. Sarma said: “The talks between Ali and Smart City Dubai are progressing well. But the government, at no cost, will deviate from the policy decision that no land in the project can be sold. We expect that in two weeks’ time, we will get a reply from them.”

It was more than three years back that the foundation stone for the project was laid and since then no progress has been made over the issue of granting 12 percent free hold rights to the builders outside the 246 acres of the proposed project site.