The Hindu              07.01.2014

Soon, centralised fogging to battle mosquito menace

Centralised fogging to control mosquito menace will soon be reintroduced in the city.

The decision was announced at a meeting of the Kochi Corporation Council after members complained that night raids by the pests had made life miserable in the city. Several councillors said decentralised fogging operations introduced in the city had failed to produce desired results. Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany said a review meeting of health officials would be held to address the issue.

The civic body will act against roadside fish vendors. Unauthorised sale of fruits and vegetables in the city will also be curbed. Health officials would be asked to look into the issue, the Mayor said. A section of the councillors protested against the exclusion of Mr. Chammany from functions attended by VIPs in the city including the ones attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prince of Wales, Charles. They also demanded that their protest be communicated to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Rail overbridge

The Mayor informed the council that E. Sreedharan, principal advisor to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), had come up with a cost-effective proposal for constructing a rail overbridge at Pachalam. The local body could not get funds to acquire land for the project. The proposal would be placed before the council for discussion, Mr. Chammany said.

Earlier, K. J. Jacob, leader of the LDF in the council, had moved a resolution demanding that the bridge be constructed at a width of 22 metres as planned earlier. He also suggested that the proposal to construct a 10-metre wide bridge be withdrawn. The resolution pointed out that the bridge would do no good to the city and the people. The LDF councillors also staged a walkout.

The Mayor, while suggesting that the resolution be withdrawn, pointed out that the people of the region had demanded a 10-metre-wide bridge. The council later rejected the resolution.

The LDF councillors lashed out against the Mayor for failing to implement the project as planned earlier and raise funds from the available sources. At the same time, three UDF councillors waved black flags against the LDF members who demanded that the bridge be constructed according to the original proposal.