41 PPP Projects Signed.

The Partner Kerala Mission recently signed an agreement with urban local bodies and development authorities for implementing projects envisaged under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.

Forty one projects worth around Rs. 1700 crore in 41 Local Self Governments, including 28 municipalities and three development authorities, were signed. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was present, said that Partner Kerala was a new approach towards development. 'The expenditure of the state is far greater than the resources. The bulk amount of the income goes towards salary, pension and paying interest. Partner Kerala is a new venture in the PPP mode by which development can be brought in,' he said.

Stating that local bodies have lot of land that has not been utilised till now, Chandy said that these lands could be used through the Partner Kerala Mission projects. He also refuted the allegations that land was being sold to private parties. He stressed that no land was being sold and the land of local bodies would remain with them.

Chandy also said that Partner Kerala Mission could be implemented in all the local bodies if the project becomes successful in the urban local bodies.

Minister for Urban Affairs and Town Planning, Manjalamkuzhi Ali, who was also present, said that Project Kerala was a unique mission that could change the development atmosphere in the local bodies. The Mission was envisaged in the wake of the local bodies’ financial constraints for taking up development works. Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany, Kollam Mayor Honey Benjamin, Kalamassery municipal chairman Jamal Manakkad were among the present.

Agent of urban development

The Partner Kerala Mission was constituted as a nodal agency for identifying and to facilitate time-bound implementation of public-private partnership projects in urban local governments and development authorities.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS