Consultancy for Kerala government’s Rs 300-crore Marine Biological Research Institute (MBRI)-Oceanarium PPP (public private participation) – with Centre and private investors – is likely to be in place in three months. The project is in Puthuvype island in Kochi.
Within a week, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) will invite global tenders for identifying consultants for this specialised task, sources told FE.
Last week, the state Cabinet had okayed transfer of 55 acres of land for the ambitious Oceanarium- MBRI project, in a quiet coup for land-starved Kerala, where any major infrastructure land deal spontaneously erupts into a controversy.
However, with the Centre’s equity yet to be confirmed, what was the rationale in rushing through the process? “Even without the Centre’s share, the Kerala government will go ahead with the international quality institute and oceanarium project,” says the state fisheries minister S Sarma.
The complex, envisaged as an academic and tourist attraction, is expected to be in place by 2011. The early feasibility report proposes features like a glass tunnel, offering glimpses of the aquatic life in Arabian Sea and even a dolphin pool or lagoon.
Even if the Centre and state put their heads together the total government equity is likely to be tightbelted at 51% of even 49%, throwing the rest open to private entreprenurs.
At the same time, the Kerala government is fingers crossed for Rs 100 crore assistance from Centre, either as grant or equity.
“Centre is pro-active on a global grade institute with oceanarium,” says the state minister who had met Union minister for science and technology Kapil Sibal in New Delhi last week.
After the wrap-up sessions of Eleventh Plan, the Central outlay for India’s first oceanarium is likely to be finalised by January.