Land takeover for GIFT City to be expedited

Efforts will be made to avoid hardship for local residents, says Minister

Industries Minister P. Rajeeve has said that land takeover for the proposed Global Industrial Finance and Trade (GIFT) City in Ayyampuzha panchayat will be speeded up, and that the process can be completed by December this year. He was speaking at a review meeting on the project which was attended by Benny Behanan, MP, and Roji M. John, MLA, among others. He said fears of local residents would be addressed, and that efforts would be made to avoid hardship for people in the area earmarked to be taken over. It was estimated that around 300 families would be affected, but efforts are on to reduce the number of families that will be affected by the project. The Minister also said that public hearings on the project would be held on July 8, 9, and 10, and people’s representatives would attend it. GIFT city is proposed as part of the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor project. There will be no polluting industry in GIFT city, and the residents of Ayyampuzha have nothing to worry on the matter, he said.