Sets Apart 70% Of Land As Open Space Kochi: With the master plan of the SmartCity project entering the final phase, the project seems to be turning more green. If the first draft proposed 40% open space, Smart-City authorities have asked designers to set apart 70% of the project land for open space in the final plan. According to sources, the SmartCity authorities want the project to be an eco- friendly one. “The project would have received environmental clearance even if 30 to 40% of the project land is open space. But our decision is to provide 70% open space so that the project would be more environmental friendly,” top officials of the project said. The SmartCity authorities had organised a workshop in Kochi last month so as to incorporate suggestions from various government agencies and departments in the master plan. Some of the suggestions by these departments have also found a place in the revised master plan. The master plan will also incorporate suggestions to retain the marshy land in the project area to the maximum. There is a lot of marshy land inside the project area and retaining it would help in absorbing rain water. Moreover, it would add to the scenic beauty of the project area. The project buildings would also be constructed in an environmentalfriendly way. There are also plans to tap rainwater on a large scale so as to keep dependence on agencies such as the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to the minimum. The most modern rainwater harvesting equipment would be installed in all buildings. Pools will be developed in locations to harvest water in an effective manner. The master plan will also give special emphasize on connectivity to other parts of the state. Top officials of Tecom, the promoters of the project and Dubai Holdings, the mother company of Tecom, have started talks with IT giants from across the globe. As of now, they are holding talks with firms that can develop the infrastructure for SmartCity. The first IT building, the construction of which is expected to begin in March, will come up in the hilly region of the project land. After a long delay, the Union government had given the single SEZ status to the entire project land except 14 acres recently. Of the 246 acres, single SEZ status was given to 131 acres. During the last director board meeting, the representatives of state government had set a time frame of two years to complete the construction of the first phase of the project. GREEN PLAN • The master plan will also incorporate suggestions to retain the marshy land in the project area to the maximum • Plans to tap rainwater on a large scale to keep dependence on Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to the minimum • Pools will be developed across the project area to harvest water in an effective manne • The first IT building, the construction of which is expected to begin in March, will come up in the hilly region of the project land • Tecom, currently, in talks with firms to develop the infrastructure for the project