Identify more land for GIDA

KOCHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is also the chairman of Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA), has directed  District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth to submit a report on whether additional land could be identified for the Goshree project near the project area. He was attending the general body meeting of the GIDA at the Ernakulam Guest House. Additional land has to be acquired to implement tourism-related activities in the project area. Chandy asked the District Collector to hold discussions with the people’s representatives in GIDA to arrive at a consensus on the issue.  At present, GIDA has a fund of `323 crore. However, it has already undertaken  development activities worth `345 crore.  Since some of these are services offered by GIDA, money has to be earmarked for them.  Union Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas, MLAs Hibi Eden, Dominic Presentation, V D Satheesan and S Sarma, Mayor Tony Chammany, District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth, Cochin Port Trust Chairman Paul Antony and presidents of various panchayats were also present at the meeting.