Latest news with #MGAristotle
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kochi corporation kicks off drive to relocate street vendors
Kochi: In a bid to regulate street vending and ease traffic and pedestrian congestion, Kochi Corporation has initiated steps to relocate street vendors to designated vending zones. The process will begin next week, starting with vendors operating along Shanmugham Road. Corporation officials said that notices will be issued to these vendors, asking them to shift to the identified vending zone on Abraham Madamakkal Road. Those who fail to comply will be evicted with the support of the police. "The corporation will provide kiosks to all the vendors. We have identified vending zones across the city to relocate them. This initiative aims to improve urban aesthetics while ensuring that vendors' livelihoods are protected," said a senior corporation official. After the new council assumed office in 2020, an initial survey was carried out to identify street vendors across the city. Based on this, temporary licences were granted. Later, re-surveys were conducted under the leadership of Kudumbashree and the Centre for Socio-Economic-Environmental Studies (CSES) to identify more eligible vendors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo As a result, 2,351 vendors were approved through the town vending committee (TVC) following several verification processes. The corporation entrusted CSES with preparing the vending plan, which proposed 69 vending zones. These zones were approved by the TVC and the corporation council before being submitted to the state govt. In 2024, the Kerala govt officially approved the street vending zones and the supporting bylaw. However, concerns remain about the implementation. "While relocating vendors, the corporation must ensure that vacated spaces are not reoccupied by new vendors. Without strict enforcement, this move will fail to achieve its objective," said MG Aristotle, secretary of the UDF parliamentary party in the corporation. Lack of adequate space is another major challenge. Aristotle pointed out that the corporation had previously promised to relocate around 40 vendors from outside Ernakulam Market to within the market premises. "That promise remains unfulfilled. These vendors are still outside the market," he said. In Fort Kochi and adjacent divisions, the number of vendors identified officially is around 300, but more than 300 vendors are operating along the Fort Kochi Beach alone. Addressing such inconsistencies will be critical as the corporation rolls out its vendor rehabilitation programme. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
KWA writes off Rs 167cr water bill arrears of Kochi corporation
Kochi: In a major relief to Kochi corporation, KWA has decided to write off water bill arrears of local body, which amounts to around Rs 167 crore. Corporation's water bills, mainly those for public water taps, were pending since 2011. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The decision was made during a meeting between corporation authorities and KWA officials in May. Govt had already cut Rs 45 crore from general purpose grant and non-road maintenance allotment to corporation to adjust water bill arrears of civic body. Moreover, KWA was required to deposit around Rs 60 lakh for carrying out various works, but the authority didn't pay it to corporation. It was without deducting these amounts that KWA put the bills, including arrears, at Rs 167 crore. All these issues were discussed during the meeting. KWA was charging bills for 5,445 public water taps in the city. At the same time, there is a dispute over the manner in which KWA is calculating water bills. "In the past few years, actual number of public water taps in the city has come down as more households are using individual water connections and need for public water taps has decreased. Still, KWA calculated bills based on the old number. The authority lacks proof to substantiate their claim that there are 5,445 in the city. All these issues were brought to the attention of KWA. This might be the reason for KWA writing off water bill arrears till March 31, 2025," said corporation UDF parliamentary party secretary M G Aristotle. A couple of years ago, KWA and corporation conducted a joint inspection to identify actual number of public water taps in the city. It was then found that number of public water taps in the city had dipped by more than 50%.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Opposition councillors in Kochi corporation to intensify protests against move to pave tiles on Metro medians
Kochi: Opposition councillors in the Kochi corporation are set to intensify their protest against KMRL's move to pave tiles on the road medians along the Metro line. The councillors have decided to raise the issue at the next council meeting. According to the councillors, KMRL has been constantly violating the conditions set while receiving approval from the govt. "During the inception of construction, KMRL promised that the Metro would be as eco-friendly as possible. Hundreds of trees were felled for the construction. Then, KMRL's version was that they would plant more saplings than the number of trees cut down. They stated in the detailed project report (DPR) that measures would be taken to make Kochi greener. But nothing concrete has happened in this regard," said M G Aristotle, secretary, UDF parliamentary party in the corporation. "Now, they have decided to pave tiles on the medians. It will add to the waterlogging in the city. Moreover, the plan will destroy thousands of flowering plants now being grown on the median. If KMRL does not back out from the project, we will intensify the strike," he added. On Monday, the councillors planted some flowering plants on the median as a mark of protest against the move to pave tiles. T J Vinod, MLA, planted the first sapling as part of the protest.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt approves loan for Kochi corporation main office construction
Kochi: Govt has given nod for the cash-strapped Kochi corporation to take a loan of Rs 25 crore to complete construction of its main office at Chathiyath on Marine Drive. The work has progressed rapidly in recent months and is expected to be ready for commissioning by the end of the year. Although the local body sought approval from state govt to take a loan of Rs 25 crore in 2023, govt requested clarity on certain issues. When local-self govt (LSG) chief engineer reviewed the loan details, it was found that the estimate for exterior furniture was excessively high. LSG authorities also raised various questions regarding the loan, causing a delay in availing the loan. According to corporation authorities, they adopted alternative means of raising funds. "We could use more than Rs 10 crore from central grant and complete the work. The remaining work may require up to Rs 15 crore," said a source within the corporation. "We are exploring other means to raise the remaining funds. We will consider availing of a loan only if we are unable to raise funds through other means," the source added. Corporation officials stated that around 90% of the work on the civil structure has been completed. "Work on the building should be completed at the earliest. At the same time, there should be proper monitoring while carrying out the work. Based on the nature of the work carried out so far, it is evident that corporation spent extra money on unnecessary and unavoidable works," said corporation UDF parliamentary party secretary MG Aristotle. The work, which began in 2005, was delayed for years due to various reasons.
