Land pooling model to be explored for Infopark Phase-3: Minister P Rajeeve
Kochi / November 23, 2024
Kochi, Nov 23: The Government is actively considering a proposal to implement the land pooling model for the development of Infopark Phase-3, Minister for Industries, Coir and Law Shri P Rajeeve said here.
Shri Rajeeve said this while inaugurating a national workshop on Kerala Land Pooling Rules, 2024, jointly organized by Infopark and the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) at Thapasya Auditorium of Infopark.
“IT has become the most important industry in Kerala. Kochi enjoys a preeminent position in Kerala’s IT ecosystem. It is in view of this that the government is exploring the possibility of land pooling for the development of Infopark phase-3,” Shri Rajeeve said.
If land pooling becomes a reality, Infopark would become a successful model for the entire state, he said.
Land acquisition for industry is not a very easy in Kerala considering the state’s, high density of population, high market value of land and ecological factors. It is against this backdrop that the government is exploring the possibilities of land pooling with the total concurrence of land owners. The state assembly has already passed the Kerala Land Pooling Rules, he pointed out.
The government will also examine the land pooling models in other states and see how a suitable model could be evolved by taking the specific features of the state into account, the Minister said.
Presiding over the function, GDCDA Chairman Shri. K. Chandran Pillai said the proposal under consideration is the first ever land pooling initiative in the state, which could be a model for the entire country once concluded. He said GCDA has been entrusted with the task of taking the proposal forward in a foolproof manner so that it could become a model for the entire country.
Shri P V Sreenijan MLA and District Collector Shri NSK Umesh IAS attended the inaugural function.
The Infopark Phase-3 is proposed to be developed at an area of 300 acres in Ernakulam district, Infopark CEO Shri Susanth Kurunthil said.
The two phases of Infopark are fully occupied, he said.
The Phase-3 is envisaged to be developed as a model facility. It will focus on six key factors—carbon neutrality, water self-sufficiency, total waste management, connectivity with Kochi city, the national highway, railway and the airport, inclusiveness and upkeep and maintenance without disrupting the existing units, he said.
The campus will also have housing apartments, commercial complexes, sports and cultural centres and medical facilities.
The Government had issued an order in October entrusting GCDA with the responsibility of carrying out the land pooling, in 300 acres of land in Ernakulam, for the development of Infopark Phase-3.
Local Self Governments Department Chief Town Planner (Vigilance) Shri Abdul Malik, GCDA Senior Town Planner, Smt. Sheeba MM, GCDA Secretary Smt. Indu Vijayanath, GCDA officials, officials of Ernakulam district administration officials, Revenue, Local Self Government Department, IT Department, Technopark, Infopark, Cyberpark, representatives from engineering colleges and legal experts participated in the workshop.
The workshop was led by town planning experts from Gujarat Shri Gopaldas Shah, Shri Rajesh Raval, Andhra Pradesh Capital Development Authority Additional Commissioner Shri. G Surya Sai Praveen Chand and legal expert Adv. Mathew Idikkula.
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