Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said that government expected that the Smartcity-IT project in collaboration with Dubai based TECOM Investments, could be implemented without a cent of land being given with right for sale to the promoters.

"Government hopes that it could implement the project by sticking to its stand that not a cent of land could be given with right to sale," Achuthanandan said.

After inaugurating Kerala IT infrastructure Company Office and official website of the company here, he said Smartcity IT project, coming up over 240 acres at Kochi, was yet to be materialised.

The Government was going ahead with various steps for the promotion of IT parks in the state, he said, adding, that the objective was a comprehensive development of the state.

Achuthanandan remarks came in the wake of the state government recently sending one more letter to TECOM over its dispute with government on 'freehold land' of the project.

Upset over not starting the mega project, expected to attract Rs 5000 crore investment, government had issued an ultimatum to TECOM in October to reply whether they were interested in the scheme.

Dispute between the state government and its joint venture promoter over the IT Park, considered to be one of the dream schemes of the state to promote IT ventures, began over the question of 'freehold land' out of 246 acres acquired and given to the promoters.

The Government maintained that it was ready to treat 30 acres as in the agreement as 'freehold' but without any right for sale, which was not acceptable to TECOM.

Though several discussions between the state governemnt officials and TECOM to find a solution were held, the project failed to take off with both parties sticking to their stand.

The foundation stone for the project was laid three years back.