The much hyped Emerging Kerala meet has turned out to be a missed opportunity for the city corporation as it failed in conceiving and showcasing city projects at the conclave and tapping the funding potential.
“It was an ideal occasion for showcasing the corporation’s own projects for funding. Several infrastructure development projects as well as other schemes could have been presented, if planned earlier”, said a top source at the corporation.
This is the most conducive time as the state government is all in support of the corporation’s projects, it is generally observed.
“Renovation of town halls, parks, development of other corporation properties, sewerage treatment plants, housing schemes, water desalination plant and several other projects could have been presented at the conclave. It was really an opportunity missed for the corporation”, added the source.
Though the corporation authorities had made some homework to chalk out project proposals to be presented at the meet, it failed to materialise.
The plan was to convene a ‘Kochi development summit’ in December last as a prelude to the Emerging Kerala meet to discuss infrastructure development projects.
According to mayor Tony Chammany, the development summit could not be convened as the chief minister didn’t have a convenient date for inaugurating it. However, the mayor added that the civic body would explore the potential of the investors’ meet.