Chandy lashes out at scribes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy came down heavily on a section of the media for unleashing a campaign that many dream projects of the UDF Government are in tatters. Listing out the status of the government’s ongoing ambitious projects one after another, he asked mediapersons to visit the Smart City on June 9 to see for themselves what was happening there.“A pavilion would be declared open on that day at 9 am. Foundation stone would be laid on the occasion for taking up the construction work for 30 lakh sq ft of buildings at a total outlay of `600 crore. In accordance with the Smart City agreement, work would be completed within 18 months,” he said.The Chief Minister also clarified that outstanding issues between the Smart City builders and the KSEB would be sorted out at the director board meet scheduled after the ceremony.On the Kochi Metro,  he said that the Planning Commission and the Economic Affairs Committee of the Union Cabinet had given the nod for the `5,181-crore project. “Only the final clearance from the Union Cabinet is awaited. But permission has already been availed of for beginning preliminary work,” he said.“Detailed Project Report has been given by the CIAL for the Kannur airport and Global Pre-Qualification tenders have been invited,” he said. In the case of the Rs 4,010 crore Vizhinjam project,only a single tender has come to stay and hence the guidelines prescribed by the Vigilance Commission have to be adhered to.Chandy said that environment impact studies have to be conducted in three seasons as per norms,which would take 18 months. The studies,which began  two months after the UDF Government came to power, are on.  “A budgetary sanction of Rs 225 crore has already been earmarked,” he  said.“Steps to realise the monorail projects in the capital city and Kozhikode are also moving at a fast pace,” the he  claimed.The Chief Minister said that new projects of the government to mark the first anniversary would be announced after a Cabinet session on June 4. “The delayed announcement is in view of the Neyyatinkara bypoll,” he said.