The New Indian Express 06.10.2010
Need to develop urban infrastructure stressed
KOCHI: It is estimated that by 2030, 70 to 80 percent of Kerala's population will be concentrated in the urban areas. Given this scenario, the need of the hour is to chart out a roadmap to improve urban infrastructure to accommodate the growing population, experts who took part in the infrastructure conference, Infracon2010, here on Tuesday have said.The seminar was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries, Kerala, and the CREDAI. The speakers at the seminar said scarcity of land was a major factor hindering development.
At the inauguration, Sanjeev Kaushik, Secretary, Ports, Kerala, said the need of the hour was the creation of a land bank in the state.
"An inventory of land held by public sector behemoths would show that they own thousands of acres of land which are not being optimally utilised," Kaushik said.
He said the nonavailability of land had hindered the development of the strategically important, `5,000crore Coastal Highway Project. On the Vizhinjam project, he said land acquisition had gathered momentum and the project had to face several hurdles in its way.
"There was an uproar when, several years ago, the land acquisition for the project was first mooted. At present, about 120 acres of land has been acquired for the project," Kaushik said. Encouraging coastal shipping is of utmost importance. Since there are 17 major and minor ports in the state, it is time to go in for an environmentfriendly, green transport system for which Kerala has the strength, he said.
The conference is trying to present a roadmap for developing an urban infrastructure in Kerala, P Ganesh, chairman of CII Kerala, said.
K Srikant, chairman, 'Infracon 2010,' emphasised the need to market the land under government possession.
