Skycity harmful to state: VS

KOCHI: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanadan on Thursday said the proposed Skycity project in Kochi was detrimental to the interests of the state.“Skycity and filling of paddy fields are against the state’s interest. These trends should not be promoted at all,” he told reporters here.Achuthanandan was in the city for releasing “Ningalude Swantham Nambadan”, a book comprising six articles of former Minister Lonappan Nambadan and writer P Prakash’s interview with him. The Kerala government had given in-principle clearance to the Skycity project. Though the project was proposed during the period of the earlier LDF government, it had refused to give clearance owing to apprehension that it could violate provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Act and cause serious environmental hazards.  Skycity, which is a flyover, will extend from Kundannoor near NH 47 Bypass to Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and will pass over Chilavannoor Bund Road and the Kochi backwaters.