Tecom cannot dictate the government were to sign and what not to do:Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac

Coming down heavily upon the Tecom authorities, the main promoters of SmartCity project., Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac said, the Tecom cannot dictate the government were to sign and what not to do.
Thomas Isaac said, the Tecom is putting some fresh demands and the LDF government is not liable to heed to each demand put forward by Tecom

Thomas Isaac said, like the UDF government the LDF will not succumb to pressure tactics.
Minister said, the government is committed to implement the project and the project will materialize at the same place where it was planned
Thomas Isaac added that, the project was bought to Kochi after several rounds of discussion at various levels.

Last week, Kodiyeri BalakrishnanMinister of Home Affairs had said that, the government would look for “other options” if Smart City Dubai, the developer of the proposed Rs.1,500-crore ($300 million) IT project, did not resolve its differences with the state and start construction soon.

Chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan had laid the foundation stone of the project Nov 16, 2007, but there has been no progress since then.The project has hit a road block with over the issue of giving 12 percent freehold land to the Dubai firm.
The government has given a special economic zone status for 136 acres of the project.
But it has neither completed the registration of the land nor settled a contentious stamp duty issue.

Last month, a two-day meeting between state government officials and a Dubai team failed to break the deadlock.

Via