The Hindu    08.08.2012

‘Kochi Corporation for positive politics’

The Kochi Corporation is practising positive politics by joining hands with all agencies interested in the development of the city, said Tony Chammany, Kochi Mayor.

Replying to the Opposition allegation in the council that several agencies were attempting to usurp the rights of the civic body, Mr. Chammany said that the rights and privileges of the civic body would be protected at any cost.

The State government extended help to the civic body to set up a modern waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram on the request of the corporation council. The council had also passed a resolution urging the State government to set up the plant there. The legislators from the city are following up the projects announced by the State government for supporting the city administration including the cleaning of city canals, he said.

Raising the issue in the council, N. Anilkumar of the CPI (M) said that the corporation was being kept in the dark about the initiatives of various agencies including the State government. Sojan Antony of the CPI (M) wanted the Standing Committee chairpersons to assert the role of the administration in development projects

The demand of the corporation for a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority for the Kochi Urban Agglomerate has been placed before the State Transport Minister. A Special Purpose Vehicle has to be formed for managing the transport system of Kochi, he said.

The allegation of the Congress councillor Leno Jacob that the CITU had encroached upon a building of the Kochi Corporation for setting up its office infuriated the CPI (M) members. The party councillors including P.S. Prakash, V.A. Srijith, K.N. Sunilkumar, M.P. Maheshkumar, N.A. Shafeek, P.R. Ranish and Sojan Antony rose in protest demanding an apology from Mr. Jacob. They said the rent was being promptly paid for the building.