Ecosmart had plans to commercialize Sabarimala?

Kochi, Nov 15

The Council of Architecture has in an affidavit before the Kerala High Court said that the IL and FS Ecosmart India Limited, which was entrusted with the job of preparing a master plan for Sabarimala development, is a limited company and hence is prohibited under under the Architects Act 1972 from using the title and style of architects or carrying on the profession of an architect by employing registered architects.

The Council has said that given the nature of the work involved in Sabarimala the Kerala government has to make sure that the work is awarded in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

The TDB had opposed assigning this work to the Ecosmart, which is a subsidiary of the IL & FS. In a counter affidavit filed by the TDB, it said that “before entrusting the work, the government had never consulted the Board”.

According to a report the Board was unaware of the norms fixed for giving contract to Ecosmart. The former state Chief Secretary had entered into an agreement with the company on Oct 07, 2004, “even prior to the introduction of the firm to the Board by the Principal Secretary” .

The TDB’s apprehensions that “the firm has an unholy intention of commercializing Sabarimala pilgrimage in the name of master plan turned out to be true”, an official source claimed. The Board had on Nov 08 last suspended the services of Ecosmart

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