There is no harm in seeing several modes, including suburban trains. But timing of raising the demand, makes eyebrows to raise.... Which line will be used to suburban services. Already our lines more than 200% saturated, so where will be more services run?


This is not a new demand. It’s only a periodic revival of a long standing demand.

Ernakulam-Tricur line is saturated only to 118% whereas Ernakulam-Kottayam and Ernakulam-Alleppey lines are saturated 160% and above. 200% means near total saturation. So while I agree that a third line is very urgent, there is still scope for atleast 2-3 pars of trains during peak hours using the existing tracks.


From taking the North Bridge down to completing the civic works and even on the actual feasibility of the project both bodies are yet to see eye-to-eye.


Why blame the corporation? The simple fact of the matter is that demolition of North ROB without making proper alternative arrangements will bring total chaos. The proposed alternative arrangements are grossly inadequate and anyone familiar with Kochi roads realizes it. No one can wish away the problem or close their eyes to the reality. The duty of the Corporation councilors is to look after the welfare of the people they represent, and by opposing the North ROB demolition, they are doing what they are supposed to do.

I can’t understand why DMRC, RDBCK, district admin and others who are so eager to demolish the North ROB show the same enthusiasm and eagerness in completing Padma-Kathrikadavu Road, which would have provided a proper alternative and made the demolition a non-issue. It is now almost 6 months since the first date of the proposed demolition, and around 4 months since UDF came to power, and if the parties concerned were sincere in their intentions, the work could almost have been be complete, or atleast in an advanced stage by now. As thing stand, not even a single stone has moved despite the assurance of the Chief Minister himself.

and finally, AFAIK the railways have not yet given their official approval to the North ROB reconstruction. The DMRC and District administration should clarify this. If the demolition takes place without approval, chances are that reconstruction would be held up indefinitely just as it happened with Pulleppady ROB and even with the present side carriageways.

regarding the other allegations such as lack of clarity on details of the road widening, DMRC can simply release the required information and shut the issue.

The city is all set to welcome idols of Lord Ganesha (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Lord-Ganesha). On September 3, the day of chaturdhi, Ganesha idol will be installed in front of the High court. More than 200 Ganesha idols are provided to temples and houses by the Shiv Sena (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Shiv-Sena) in connection to the Ganesh Chaturdhi (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ganesh-Chaturdhi).

The idols ranging from a feet tall to almost 18 feet in length are made in Thiruvananthapuram. "For all the fourteen districts in the city, the idols are sent out from the main office at Thiruvananthapuram, east-fort", says T R Devan, program coordinator. The artisans are brought from Rajasthan and Maharashtra, called specially for this, 3 months before the Chaturdhi.

The other state influences are seen not only with the artisans but also with the raw materials. All the necessary raw materials used to make the idol are brought from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. The painting of the idol though would be done after the idols are ported to the respective districts.

Though the idols are water-soluble the paint used is not. Shivan Kutty who has been painting idols in Kochi for the past eleven years confirms this. "We use fluorescent paint to make the idols look attractive," he noted.

"The idols are a great unifying process," noted the program coordinator. "All love Ganesha, sans religious divides, thus we usually have people coming in to help us and we are only happy to create that communal harmony," said Devan, Shiv Sena member.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Kochi-set-for-Ganeshotsav/articleshow/9817011.cms

Following the state technical group's instruction that the Kochi corporation should tar 38 city roads with 20 mm thickness instead of the proposed 40 mm, the corporation has decided to implement the same despite reservations.

"We have to follow the order as there is specific instruction that we have to use paver machines if we go for 40 mm chipping carpet for our roads. Ideally, 40 mm is better suited for our roads in terms of longevity and maintenance. So, we proposed 40 mm for our roads earlier," said Soumini Jain, standing committee chairperson, works committee.

"But the contractors can't afford to use paver machines as it would inflate their budgets. But if we go for two inch thickness, the roads will be back to their sorry state in a few months," she said, adding that the paved roads require at least 48 hours to set before motorists use them.

"This has been an important factor that contributed to the sorry state of our roads. Because of heavy traffic the newly-paved roads are used before they are set. We can't block roads as there are no alternative routes for vehicles," she said.

The small roads of the city where repair work has to be undertaken and the need for paver machines for 40 mm chipping carpet were cited by the technical group for turning down the corporation's proposal.


Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Kochi-corporation-to-implement-order-on-roads/articleshow/9816905.cms
(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Kochi-corporation-to-implement-order-on-roads/articleshow/9816905.cms)

Once upon a time, these structures were part of DH Ground. To be exact, all these structures part of India Palace grounds of Kochi Rajas, where the European Guests of Kochi Kings used to relax during the monarchy days. In those days, DH Ground was the cultural and political nerve of the city.

The present residences of the Collector and judges that line the Club road are modern structures, and does not have any historic or aesthetic value

If these structures brought back to DH along with India Palace, it shall restore the glory of Durbar Hall during the days of Monarchy.

AFAIK the court has ruled against the government with regards to the take-over of the India Palace, and the place is now occupied by some advocates. However I don't know the latest position, or whether the case is still pending somewhere.

But the contractors can't afford to use paver machines as it would inflate their budgets.

that says it all......

City has been becoming a home to lot of people from various parts of the country. But the presence of many Maldivians in the city has forced the Special Branch to conduct a thorough checking of the various pockets in the city where Maldivians have been found camping.

Though the city police have not come across any incidents of smuggling or anti-national activities involving Maldivians, they have launched the drive as part of a precautionary measure.

"We don't know why there has been a surge in the arrival of people from Maldives to the city.

The special branch wing has been able to identify an area near Karugapilly in the city where large number of Maldivians has been staying," said M N Ramesh, city special branch assistant commissioner.

The official said the police had conducted a preliminary enquiry to identify the reasons for the rise in arrival of Maldivians and it had been ascertained that these people were gradually moving out of Thiruvananthapuram,where they usually camp, due to various reasons.

Ramesh said that most of Maldivians staying in the city have been making use of a loop hole in the visa rules to stay permanently in the city.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Maldivians-in-Kochi-under-scanner/articleshow/9829007.cms (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Maldivians-in-Kochi-under-scanner/articleshow/9829007.cms)

The annual trade fair for marketing products of the Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP), Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, and Kudumbasree units in the district will begin on September 3-7.

The IRDP fair is being organised by the district administration at Ernakulathappan Ground, Kochi to help the rural folk market their products at attractive remuneration. A total number of 39 stalls will be there in the exhibition grounds.

The products brought by the women's self-help groups and cooperative societies in the blocks include food products, wood and cane furniture, handicraft items using a wide variety of materials including coconut shell, coconut wood, cloth and paper.

Also organic Marayoor Jaggery, tea, honey, spices and Kadampuli from various parts of Idukki district will be featured in the exhibition. Coir products from Alappuzha will be also showcased and sold in this event. The festival will also feature stalls from Idukki, Palakkad, Trichur, Alappuzha districts.

IRDP Mela is especially for products from Kudumbasree groups, self-help groups and neighbourhood groups, showcasing the skills of the rural populance and to promote their products and help them market. The event will be a five-day affair and will conclude on September 7. Various participants from 14 blocks will showcase their products at the fair.

The fair is being organised jointly by the district panchayat, District Poverty Alleviation Unit, district administration, block and grama panchayats and the various financial institutions.

KOCHI: The Central Government will release an amount of� Rs. 150 crore for the renovation of the Maradu market in Kochi.
Speaking at ‘Haritholsavam 2011’ organised by the Agriculture Department along with the Ministry of Agriculture, here on Saturday, Union Minister K V Thomas said that steps would be taken to make Maradu Market one of the most modernised ones in South India.
The Minister said that many places, including Thrikkakara will also get small cold storage. He said that measures have been initiated to distribute rice and wheat at a subsidised rate in the state ahead of Onam. Rice which costs at Rs. 23 a kilo will be distributed at Rs. 11.85 and wheat which costs Rs. 16 a kilo will be distributed at Rs. 8.45.
Inaugurating the function Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Haritholsavam, the biggest agri-horti fest in India is organised in the backdrop of Onam. He said the Central Government should take the responsibility in making the Maradu Market as one of the most modernised market in South India.
Haritholsavam was started in 2009, but due to some technical reasons it was not organised later. “To continue Haritholsavam in the future, the State Government will set aside an amount of� Rs. 25 lakh,” the Chief Minister said. He sought the help of the Central Government to speed up the procedures in this regard.
Noted scientist M S Swaminathan said there is a need to open a new chapter in the state which should be purely based on agriculture. “Organic farming is developing at a fast pace. But the unavailability of improved scientific techniques in transportation is putting a lot of impediments in its improvement.”
It is said that the Haritholsavam 2011 will be the ideal platform to showcase fruits and vegetables from India which will help the farmers to procure a reasonable price for their products. The focus fruit for this year’s Haritholsavam is banana. Bunch of bananas weighing 50 kg was a main attraction of the fest. The Haritholsavam emphasises the farming of fruits and vegetables which will give an impetus to the agricultural sector, thereby providing the farmers a platform to update themselves with the technological innovations.
Excise Minister K Babu, K P Dhanapalan MP, MLAs V D Satheesan, Ludy Louis, Dominic Presentation, Benny Behanan, district panchayat president Eldose Kunnappalli, District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth and Maradu municipal chairman T K Devarajan were also present.


Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rs-150crore-aid-to-renovate-maradu-market/181112-60-122.html

Hi,

Does anybody know whether the meeting took palce on August 16th at Thiruvananthapuram with the minister in charge of Railways regarding the proposed Tripunithura - Kalamassery rail line. Thanks.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_horizontal/article-images/varkeys.jpg.crop_display.jpg

The supermarket chain Varkeys is very much in the doldrums and has been unable to pay its rentals nor will it vacate its properties.

An almost defunct entity, it recently hogged the national limelight when the media reported that a prominent Middle East-based NRI and Aditya Birla Retail were in the race to buy the beleaguered company.

The unconfirmed reports, in fact, had provided a ray of hope to those who had rented out their premises to Varkeys. However, as things stand today, they feel, it was just a ploy for Varkeys to dodge its commitments.:bash:

Bounced cheques, pending rentals, unwillingness to vacate leased premises and legal acrimony is what Varkeys is known for today.

Dr Jose rented out his building near Thevara College to Varkeys. “I’ve rented 2500 sq ft area for a rent of Rs 40,000 a month. But, for over seven months, they haven't paid any rent,” he said.

Dr Jose says Varkeys was prompt in payment before it went into distress mode. “Due to this, I asked them several times to vacate the premises. But, they refused. Their transactions are not transparent any more,” he said.

Mr Vinod, who rented out his premises at K. P. Valluvan Road has been more lucky. “I faced a similar situation, but somehow, I succeeded in vacating them. If they had retained my property, I would have landed in big trouble,” he said.

Mr T. Ravi, a businessman who rented out 3000 sq ft of space at Atlantis Junction at Thevara to Varkeys says the company owes him rent of about Rs 5 lakh.

He says every time he approached Varkeys, they would give a cheque. “But, invariably they all bounced. They neither give us an exact date to clear the dues, nor are they willing to vacate the premises.”

Fed up with erratic payment and Varkeys unwillingness to stand by its commitment, Mr Ravi has dragged the company to court.

Another creditor, Mr Antony, rented out 10,000 sq ft in his building at Kadavanthara Junction but has not been receiving his monthly rent for several months now.

He has, however, succeeded in getting back 2000 sq ft of space on the second floor. “They had to pay the TDS and service tax, which they didn’t,” he said.

Moreover, he claims that the cheques Varkeys gives invariably bounce and since the lease runs for another three years, the company has refused to vacate the premises.

“They assure me things will become normal. But I don’t see any signs,” he said.

Varkeys trouble with its lessees is not confined to Kochi alone. It’s landed in trouble in other parts of the State too.

“Ups and downs are normal in business. Yet, it’s important that they retain their integrity. Otherwise, they run the risk of shooing away prospective buyers,” pointed out a source.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/will-varkeys-pay-rent-and-vacate-their-premises-509

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_horizontal/article-images/varkeys.jpg.crop_display.jpg

The supermarket chain Varkeys is very much in the doldrums and has been unable to pay its rentals nor will it vacate its properties.


Commercial Hotspots, worth billions lying vacant!! :bash:

Varkeys should be a case study for MBAs. "How to commit business suicide"

I have been a silent visitor to this forum for the last few months - and I would just like to thank everybody for making it such a promising place to get news about Kochi. I feel I know Mr MI, Mr Dileep, Malayali and all through all their posts. I have recently moved to Saudi Arabia after a number of years in the US, and I must say that the energy in Kochi is very exciting. My connection to Kochi is from my mother's side - my grandparents house used to be right next to Sui theater in Chullickal.
I have recently booked a flat in Aluva and it will (hopefully) be completed in 2012.
Once again, a quick thanks to all the contributors for making this such an active forum.
Cheers.

In signs of improved labour market conditions, hiring activities witnessed positive momentum in August as compared to the same period last year, according to two reports released today.

Job portals Monster.com and Naukri.com saw their job indices record 14 per cent annual growth in August, reflecting better hiring prospects.

Monster Employment Index, a monthly gauge of online job demand, for August showed that media and entertainment led all the sectors in annual growth.

Meanwhile, Naukri Job Speak Index for August indicated that banking, telecom and pharma sectors maintained steady hiring levels.

"The Monster Employment Index India continues to exhibit a positive momentum in annual growth driven by sustained hiring activity in all major industry sectors like IT-Hardware, Software; and Oil/Gas/Petroleum, Power," Monster.com's Managing Director (India/ Middle East/ South East Asia) Sanjay Modi said in a statement.

Naukri.com said that sectors, including auto and construction saw a decline in hiring activities in August.

"While it is possible that the slowdown in economic activity may lead to some firms lowering down their hiring pace, the reflection of the same on the overall hiring sentiment may be visible around mid-October," Info Edge India's Managing Director and CEO Hitesh Oberoi said in a separate statement.

Monster.com said that Kochi was ahead among all cities in terms of monthly as well as annual growth in online job opportunities. :banana::banana:

On the other hand, Naukri.com noted that among metros, "Kolkata and Bangalore recorded yearly growths of 29 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively in August 2011 over August 2010".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/careers/job-trends/Hiring-data-see-positive-momentum-in-Aug-Reports/articleshow/9899282.cms

The Durbar Hall art gallery in the city is all set to flaunt a new look come October 15. The Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi has been working along with the Durbar Hall art gallery to elevate both to international standards to be one of the main hosts of the acclaimed Biennale International Art Exhibition in November 2012.

The state government has allotted the money to Kochi Biennale Foundation to develop the Lalit Kala Akademi gallery as an international gallery. The fund allocated for the whole Biennale exhibition in Kerala is 5 crores of which 3.5 crores has been already spent on Durbar Hall alone. Bombay based Vikas Dilawari, an activist-architect, has taken renovation of the hall as a project keeping in mind the historical value of the building.

"Almost 70 per cent of contemporary artists in India are of Kerala origin, making it apt for Kochi to host this international event," points out Bony Thomas, one of the trustees with the Kochi Biennale foundation. He also claimed that after the work is complete, the Durbar hall art gallery would be the finest gallery that India can boast.

Durbar Hall is just one of the historical structures getting a facelift. The Biennale has taken up a Kochi-Muziris project which would narrow in on venues for exhibition. The venues would be renovated if required, says Thomas. "There are ten to twenty venues in and around Kochi and Kodungalloor (Muziris), where many existing art galleries and some forgotten, protected monuments would turn into world- standard art galleries, come next year," said Riyas Kumo, secretary of the foundation.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Durbar-Hall-art-gallery-gets-a-face-lift/articleshow/9905416.cms

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/39354_145422575481610_112098462147355_315080_2033827_n.jpg

Wishing all Kochinites and other SSCians a happy first Onam

Uthradam Onam Day wishes

The Kochi Vikasana Samiti has finalised a memorandum to be presented to the Union Railway Minister asking to convert the Old Railway Station near High Court, which is lying unused, to a suburban passenger station.

The memorandum will be presented to the Minister who will visit the state on September 19. The Samiti said that if the old station could be reconverted into a local station, the traffic in the city could be lightened as the traffic from the North and South railway stations will be reduced, significantly. Daily commuters travelling to offices within the city would also benefit.

Chairman M R Rajandran Nair said: “If we re-develop the station and introduce MEMU service, it would be extremely beneficial as people can easily reach the city. There is no need of any land acquisition, as the land and rails are already available. The service is opened connecting trains linking Ernakulam to Thrissur, Palakkad, Alappuzha and Kottayam, the passengers can travel at a much lower rate.” The land available near the station is government land and can be easily acquired,if needed, the Samiti said.

The Old Railway Station built in the year 1902 was functioning as a goods station till 2000. When another goods shed opened in Ernakulam, the 22-acre railway station became a complete waste land. The station developed by Raja Varma, the Maharaja of Kochi in 1902, has historical importance too. Mahatma Gandhi had come to Kerala via this station.

As the city and its suburbs grow, the traffic is bound to increase manifold,the Samiti said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/campaign-to-develop-old-railway-station/182382-60-122.html

http://wallpapers.dgreetings.com/images/wallpapers/onam/onam-2.1024x768.jpg



HAPPY THIRUONAM!!!

Enjoy the best

The tradition of giving Uthrada Kizhi to the descendants of Kochi royal family was performed by Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan here on Thursday.

The practice was started by the erstwhile rulers of Kochi as part of offering money to the woman members of the family to buy clothes for the harvest festival. Now the onus lay on the government to fulfil the king’s order passed long back. There are 66 beneficiaries for the Uthrada kizhi, the amount of which has increased from Rs. 14 to Rs. 1015 this year. Until the previous year, Soumyawathi Thamburatti, was receiving only Rs. 14. “I have been receiving the amount for the last 56 years. The amount kept varying at different periods,” she, said.

A member of the royal family, Thamburatti has sons at Kottayam, Ernakulam and London. She migrated to Kottayam from Ernakulam after the marriage with A R Raja Raja Varma about 45 years back.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/uthrada-kizhi-presented-to-royal-family-members/182627-60-116.html

So its going to be Opposition free at Kochi Corporation!!!! I wonder now the Mayor can sing- Sil Sila hai Sila!!!

KPCC general secretary and Congress councillor N Venugopal is likely to become the new chairman of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). According to reliable sources, the official declaration in this regard will be made after the next cabinet meeting.

The UDF has already taken a decision in appointing Venugopal as the chairman of GCDA,they said.

Earlier, the names of Venugopal and senior Congress leader A C Jose from the I group were doing the rounds for the post. From the A group, the prominent names for the post included that of K Mohammed Ali and M O John. Simi Rosebell John was also in the race for the post.

According to sources in the Congress, the party had already taken a final decision on sharing the chairmanship of nearly 80 boards and corporations among its constituents.

“The Congress will have its own nominees in 38 chairman posts, while 18 will be given to the Muslim League and 10 to the Kerala Congress,” said the sources.

Two other constituents-the JSS and the CMP, which do not have any representation in the present Assembly, will also be given chairman posts.
Meanwhile, if Venugopal is appointed as the new chairman, he will have to resign from the post of councillor. He is at present a councillor from the Island South division.

Sources said Venugopal had been chosen for the post in a bid to silence him from criticising present Mayor Tony Chammany and his team.

“Venugopal had not hesitated to criticise the Mayor after he was sidelined in the race for the post of Mayor election,” sources said.

They said that once Venugopal moves out of the Corporation, the present council and Mayor could act more freely,” added the sources

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/n-venugopal-may-become-gcda-chief/184651-60-122.html

Now the fight between GCDA and Corporation will start.

You can't win!!

^^ Anyway after a long time, this news helps people of Kochi to refresh their memory to recollect that they have a corporation council exist. After the IPL ticket controversy, everyone was forgetting about them.

Offtopic!

Yesterday, me with friends on a night out were halting @ Edappally signal near to Hotel Saphire, at around 1am. The Signal light's were perfect and working. A Thalassery registered Scorpio cruising over 100 kmph coming from the Paravur side cut the red signal took a 'L' turn towards Ernakulam side, that had some Hollywood Visual & Audio effects! on the way hitting a bike with 2 youngsters! Great drama followed, Thank God, those kids are safe!!

Check out while crossing junctions, there are brainless drivers! :bash:

Reminds me of this joke:

Two guys in a car drive right through a red light.

"Man, you just ran that red light!" exclaimed the passenger.

"Don't worry, my brother does it all the time," said the driver.

They continue driving through town and then proceed to drive through another stop light.

"You just ran another stop light! You're going to get us killed!" screamed the nervous passenger.

"Don't worry, my brother does it all the time," repeated the driver.

Moments later, they approached a green light and they came to a halting stop.

"Why are you stopping?" asked the anxious passenger.

The driver turned and said, "Because my brother might be coming!"

^^

:rofl:

found an interesting link
http://mgroadcochin.com/

Could this report be true? Can't authorities check and draw these con-men/institutions to a close?

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Fake-certificate-racket-thrives-in-Kochi/314218.html

Enthayi Edapally ROB?? Vallathum nadakko in 2011?

Eyewitnesses say that construction is over, and paving of the approach road and the spans is in progress. I am sure rains are playing havoc with the schedule.

Enthayi Edapally ROB?? Vallathum nadakko in 2011?

ROB is ready..Only Approach road work is pending but this is getting delayed because of heavy rain. The whole area is very slushy now its impossible to expect them to work now. Still feel it will be ready by early december.

Hey Guys,

I wonder why no one reported this most prized news for our city

iaA1b-iqfzI


KOCHI IS WORLD'S 4TH LEAST VIOLENT CITY

and

India's most peaceful city

Its said by none other than United Nations Organization, in their annual report.

Kerala as whole is India's 6th most safest state, with Kochi being most safest city in India with least violence.....

^^

I saw this news yesterday, even though i support the statement in India's perspective! but stating it as 4th safest city in the world is a blunder!!!

No city in India can match cities Down Under, Europe or Mid-East in terms of safety. :)

^^^^^^

Even me too... I too doubt whether 4th status is valid or not. But from where did the term 4th arose, unless there is something to backup? I was searching for the real UN Report, but couldn't find it. But Newspapers are carrying out.... But I wonder, if its an imagination, then why can't it be called as Most peaceful city in the world etc.... Moreover, can't these media be held responsible for a wrong reporting, by filing a case in Court?

Its 100% true, our city is extremely safer than any city in INDIA.... But around the world, I am too not sure....

Whats shown in movies as quotation gangs and stuff like that, are something to make stories similar to whats in Bollywoods.... I don't believe, it has something to do with reality....

Hey Guys,

KOCHI IS WORLD'S 4TH LEAST VIOLENT CITY

and

India's most peaceful city

Its said by none other than United Nations Organization, in their annual report.

Kerala as whole is India's 6th most safest state, with Kochi being most safest city in India with least violence.....

Great going indeed...i don't think any HYPE in this news....its a great city that respect humanity and civilization... where every human being is treated with some dignity. :)

Great going indeed...i don't think any HYPE in this news....its a great city that respect humanity and civilization... where every human being is treated with some dignity. :)

I was literarily hunting for this UN Report.... But couldn't find any.... Ofcourse, I have no doubt, it would be the most safest city in India. Some years back, the city had got similar recongition and last year, India Today also rated the city as one of the safest....

But claiming 4th safest, is yet to digest... There is no requirement from our side to simply sit and praise our city. After all we are not Court Jesters to do so.

So we need solid proof to believe it.... Do you guys think, just because Police is so strong and active, the city became peaceful?

If so, then Riyadh would have been the most peaceful city in the world:lol:

There are several countries like New Zealand, Swizerland, Germany, small countries like Timor, Burnei, low populated countries like Iceland, Finland, Sweden etc, having set its own benchmark in urban security.

I am 100% sure, Kochi wouldn't crossed all these parameters, to join in that league.

Its 100% true, our city is extremely safer than any city in INDIA.... But around the world, I am too not sure....

Whats shown in movies as quotation gangs and stuff like that, are something to make stories similar to whats in Bollywoods.... I don't believe, it has something to do with reality....

Fort Kochi & Mattanchery for a long period was considered a strong area of gangs, even then those issues were within gangs itself. Civilians were safe always in Kochi :)

delete

then delete the post :nuts:

Hey Induzcreed... Don't be upset... Its true that the city got a recongition from UN Habitat, as it was shown in Manorama and Kairali, where the officer reading out Kochi's name as least violent city in India.

I was searching either for a report or a video to post that news here, since yesterday. But didn't found any. Some hours back, I saw Asianet posted the newsclip. But I was bit taken back, to see the tag of 4th safest in the WORLD.

Anyway, I posted in the same spirit, so that we can have a discussion whether THAT TAG is right or wrong. It doesn't mean Kochi didn't get any recognition from UN. The tag of being SAFEST INDIAN CITY still remains.

Yes, its true, we have to discuss and post-mortem every single news, be it positive or negative. I feel, we must not be carried away by any hype of media nor crumble to any celebrities/media's remarks

We have our own brains and figures in front of us, to study and analyse the right and wrong of an information.

I posted the video, to celebrate the spirit of being our city, the most safest in India. But at the same time, we have to analyse, is the hype of 4th safest in the world, true?

Well, I have more info on this.

The National Crime Records Bureau collects and keeps the statistics of crimes. They publish the stats on yearly basis. I had made some interesting observation about the statistics.

1. The statistics is on REPORTED cases. So, if a crime is not reported (or the police refused to file FIR), then it doesn't enter the stastistics. It doesn't mean crimes didn't happen.

2. Kochi stats shows a big anomaly, where the number of violent crimes (murder, robbery, assault etc) is very low, but non violent crimes are high. So, depending upon the way you look at it, it can be the safest city (if you count only violent crimes) or the second highest criminal city (counting all crimes).

The latter point is often highlighted. I am glad that someone actually looked at the stats and expressed the real meaning.

The Cochin international airport limited (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Cochin-international-airport-limited) (CIAL) is unlikely to pursue the proposal to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) for airport-related industries as hardly anyone has come up with firm plans to set up units there so far.

CIAL had obtained an `in-principle approval` from the SEZ (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/SEZ) board of the Union ministry of commerce for setting up an SEZ of airport-related industries in the 250-acre area close to the airport, in 2010. CIAL, which was the maiden public-private partnership initiative in the airports sector in the country, had also become practically the first airport to get SEZ status, then.

However the ministry had not issued a formal notification confirming the SEZ status so far. "We are not likely to follow-up the proposal. We have not been able to get serious enquiries for setting up units at the SEZ. We have tried to market it all over the world, including at various international aviation shows, during the last one-and-a-half year. But not even one agreement has been signed so far," a top official of the CIAL told TOI here.

"We might need to use the area marked earlier for the SEZ for airside operations. In fact the proposed new international terminal is likely to be housed there," the official said.

The proposal was to set up industries producing components meant for aircraft maintenance repair overhaul (MRO) units or for ground handling operations at the airport. Each unit was to be granted a 50 cent plot on an average, and the proposal was to have 500 units in the SEZ. The expectation was that it would generate employment to about 2,500 people.

The CIAL was to provide assured power supply to units in SEZ and they were promised a solid market in the MRO units, airlines and in the airport itself. Decisions on the SEZ and the proposed new international terminal are likely to be taken at the CIAL board meeting to be held on Saturday.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Few-industries-show-interest-in-SEZ/articleshow/10074347.cms

http://epaper.manoramaonline.com/MMDaily/Kochi/2011/09/25/F/MMDaily_Kochi_2011_09_25_F_BU_006/48_190_506_1516.jpg

The increased importance of the Indian Ocean Region in International shipping would benefit Kochi, according to Dr. Satish Agnihotri, Director General of Shipping. He also mentioned that it is desirable to relax the cabotage rules.

The inauguration became a platform to bring to notice the absence of a metropolitan council, which should have been completed as part of the '100 days of action' exercise of the present state government.

K Babu said that this will be taken into consideration, though he did not specify the timeframe for its formation. "Forming the council is very important," said Gopalakrishna Pillai, chief town planner, GCDA. Pillai pointed out that the setting up of the council will lead to a more transparent and efficient understanding between GCDA and the Corporation of Cochin.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Marine-Drive-walkway-opened/articleshow/10109850.cms



I believe, this government is getting serious about forming Metropolitian Council. A good movie!!! Finally Kochi is getting is due share, rather than 1960s era corporation maps!!!!:banana::banana:

If it is going to be another Salary Paying Authority, I am not interested!

BTW, would having a Metro Council make the naysayers accept the fact that Kochi is, in fact a metropilitan city?

If it is going to be another Salary Paying Authority, I am not interested!

BTW, would having a Metro Council make the naysayers accept the fact that Kochi is, in fact a metropilitan city?

I too believe, mere formation of a council, won't help the city. The Government must serious consider forming a powerful council, whose presiding Chairman/President has a rank of a Cabinet minister and more powers to the council.

In addition, the Government must declare Cochin and Trivandrum as Metropolitian regions, using provisions of Article 243(P) of Indian Constitutions. Such activities, will help the city to became a metro in records too. Otherwise the city is already a bustling metropolis in reality, spanning more than 250 sqkms....

No. Article 243P is for town planning purpose, by which GCDA is constituted. That is my very fear that would happen. We want a Kochi Metro Council that is a real city council, like the BBMP of Bangalore.

Foreign tourists visiting Kerala have made Kochi the top destination for foreign tourists in the state. Kochi notched up Rs 3,070 crore in tourist turnover in 2010. :banana::banana::banana:

According to the Kerala Department of Tourism, 1.16 lakh foreigners visit the town every year, which is also the main entry point for them into Kerala. In fact, Kochi crossed Kovalam in hosting the maximum number of tourist arrivals a few years ago and has retained pole position since.

Income generated from tourists comes to around Rs 3,070 crore, of which Rs 2,030 crore came from domestic tourists.

"If you take into account the other destinations in the district, it is evident that Ernakulam district attracts 43% of Kerala-bound foreign tourists," says U V Jose, planning officer for Kerala Tourism. "The major sources of foreign tourists to Kochi are UK (24%), US (11%), France (10%), Germany (7.6%), and Australia (6%)," Jose adds. Kochi also retains the prime position among South Indian tourist destinations.

S Swaminathan, chief executive officer of tourist agency Dravidian Trails says, "People consider Kochi a heritage city and go to Fort Kochi to scour the backwaters. Tourists like to spend two days here." The peak flow of inbound tourists happens in the months of November to February and the lean period stretches from May to August.

Apart from the free individual travellers and groups flying in, cruise junkies contribute significantly to the local economy. "Between March and April, around 20 ships call at Cochin port and travellers spend at least a day here," Swaminathan added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Trippers-bring-in-Rs-3070-crore-to-Kochi/articleshow/10134137.cms

The official data is here: http://www.keralatourism.org/destination-wise-foreign-2010.pdf

The official data is here: http://www.keralatourism.org/destination-wise-foreign-2010.pdf

I believe, the focus is now to develop Cherai Beach as an international known hub of beach tourism. The best part is that, it has 2 unknown beaches like Munabam and Puthuvypeen Beach, which was recently created by God, as one of the finest beaches with semi-white sands

Along with Muziris Heritage circuit, I believe, the next big boom, will be Paravur-Cherai-Vypeen area.... It would be a best mixture of Heritage, culture, Beach and Backwaters, which would be upscale cocktail combination, that every tourist would seek for!!!!:banana:

^^ When I visited last month, cherai beach consition was pathetic, lots of waste all around there, it looks like yet another beach, that we can find everywhere in kerala sea shore.

^^ When I visited last month, cherai beach consition was pathetic, lots of waste all around there, it looks like yet another beach, that we can find everywhere in kerala sea shore.

It depends lot on how you market and how you maintain. Cherai is a indeed a good beach, with a long seashore and ideal for beach games. The biggest attraction is that, it has a beach and a backwaters within 500 tp 600 meters.

Currently Cherai beach is maintained by DTPC and not so active in tourist promotion. Few years have been over, since Munabam and Puthuvypeen beach have formed. Yet our authorities haven't focused marketing these vrigin beaches

Many beaches, say Goa, even our own Kovalam etc catapulted to greater heights, when govt and private agencies actively worked for its promotion...

Sadly this seems to be missing in Cherai's case. I am sure, once there is strong govt participation, this beach can be of Number 1 in tourist attractions, coupled with Kerala's, perhaps India's largest, historical circuit is under development in its vicinity.

I believe, the focus is now to develop Cherai Beach as an international known hub of beach tourism. The best part is that, it has 2 unknown beaches like Munabam and Puthuvypeen Beach, which was recently created by God, as one of the finest beaches with semi-white sands

Along with Muziris Heritage circuit, I believe, the next big boom, will be Paravur-Cherai-Vypeen area.... It would be a best mixture of Heritage, culture, Beach and Backwaters, which would be upscale cocktail combination, that every tourist would seek for!!!!:banana:

If the government gets its act right, the beaches in the stretch from Mararikulam to Munnamam can make Goa pale in comparison. Add this to the other natural and historic attractions, Cochin can easily rank very high in the top tourist destinations of the world.

Foreign tourists visiting Kerala have made Kochi the top destination for foreign tourists in the state. Kochi notched up Rs 3,070 crore in tourist turnover in 2010. :banana::banana::banana:

According to the Kerala Department of Tourism, 1.16 lakh foreigners visit the town every year, which is also the main entry point for them into Kerala. In fact, Kochi crossed Kovalam in hosting the maximum number of tourist arrivals a few years ago and has retained pole position since.

Income generated from tourists comes to around Rs 3,070 crore, of which Rs 2,030 crore came from domestic tourists.

"If you take into account the other destinations in the district, it is evident that Ernakulam district attracts 43% of Kerala-bound foreign tourists," says U V Jose, planning officer for Kerala Tourism. "The major sources of foreign tourists to Kochi are UK (24%), US (11%), France (10%), Germany (7.6%), and Australia (6%)," Jose adds. Kochi also retains the prime position among South Indian tourist destinations.

S Swaminathan, chief executive officer of tourist agency Dravidian Trails says, "People consider Kochi a heritage city and go to Fort Kochi to scour the backwaters. Tourists like to spend two days here." The peak flow of inbound tourists happens in the months of November to February and the lean period stretches from May to August.

Apart from the free individual travellers and groups flying in, cruise junkies contribute significantly to the local economy. "Between March and April, around 20 ships call at Cochin port and travellers spend at least a day here," Swaminathan added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Trippers-bring-in-Rs-3070-crore-to-Kochi/articleshow/10134137.cms

Its a very good revelation...so officially Kochi is the top tourist destination in Kerala .....

Foreign tourists visiting Kerala have made Kochi the top destination for foreign tourists in the state. Kochi notched up Rs 3,070 crore in tourist turnover in 2010. :banana::banana::banana:

According to the Kerala Department of Tourism, 1.16 lakh foreigners visit the town every year, which is also the main entry point for them into Kerala. In fact, Kochi crossed Kovalam in hosting the maximum number of tourist arrivals a few years ago and has retained pole position since.

Income generated from tourists comes to around Rs 3,070 crore, of which Rs 2,030 crore came from domestic tourists.

"If you take into account the other destinations in the district, it is evident that Ernakulam district attracts 43% of Kerala-bound foreign tourists," says U V Jose, planning officer for Kerala Tourism. "The major sources of foreign tourists to Kochi are UK (24%), US (11%), France (10%), Germany (7.6%), and Australia (6%)," Jose adds. Kochi also retains the prime position among South Indian tourist destinations.

S Swaminathan, chief executive officer of tourist agency Dravidian Trails says, "People consider Kochi a heritage city and go to Fort Kochi to scour the backwaters. Tourists like to spend two days here." The peak flow of inbound tourists happens in the months of November to February and the lean period stretches from May to August.

Apart from the free individual travellers and groups flying in, cruise junkies contribute significantly to the local economy. "Between March and April, around 20 ships call at Cochin port and travellers spend at least a day here," Swaminathan added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Trippers-bring-in-Rs-3070-crore-to-Kochi/articleshow/10134137.cms

Do you believe in the above news? Below is your own comments about TOI and their news. :)


I don't think TOI is expressing truth. They are reporting things for someone else. Most of their reports are indicative to that.

I am still in belief, TOI was playing mischief, by systematically reporting negative news, based on hearsays and rumors....

Do you believe in the above news? Below is your own comments about TOI and their news. :)

As long as its not any hearsays/rumours said by an official closed to an organization, on condition of anonymity, and news backed by solid data figures published by an authority, there is a reason to believe so

http://www.keralatourism.org/destination-wise-foreign-2010.pdf

I hope, there is no reason to disbelief a Government of Kerala document

And I know, what brings you down here!!!!

But let me tell you, the news style of TOI doesn't represent a value or dignity as Hindu or to some extent NIE commands... I never expected this from a National newspaper.......

It is Tabloid of India.

Actually, for the past three years, Kochi had been steadily increasing the tourist numbers. The tourism department collects and publishes the statistics, so it is pretty reliable.

CIAL and the improved international connectivity has something to do with it.

Kochi is the perfect gateway for tourist. On North you have Athirampally and Guruvayoor. On East we have Munnar and other places in Idukki. On South its places like Kumarakom and Alleppey. Kochi city itself has somany heritages spots like SantaCruz basilica,Koder house,St Francis Church,Dutch Cemetry etc. No wonder we have topped :)

Kochi is the perfect gateway for tourist. On North you have Athirampally and Guruvayoor. On East we have Munnar and other places in Idukki. On South its places like Kumarakom and Alleppey. Kochi city itself has somany heritages spots like SantaCruz basilica,Koder house,St Francis Church,Dutch Cemetry etc. No wonder we have topped :)


But I believe, unless the govt and private agencies chalk out more plans for Fort Kochi, this trend would be seriously affected. Fort Kochi is losing its real beauty as an Colonial European City. I must say, a few years back, a visit to Fort Kochi or any of its streets, gives me a feel that I am in 16th century Lisbon or Amsterdam.... That trend is coming down, due to increased commercialization, unhygienic practices and non preservation of several areas...

The Govt and private bodies must try hard to retain the charm of the Fort as an elite Colonial European feel. Pondicherry is a classic example, how despite of having a huge tamil population, keeps the Classic French everywhere.

I believe, the govt must seek support of a PPP Venture, in establishing a state of the art museum, including a miniture museum, depicting how Fort Kochi was used to be in 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, wax museum, digitalization of records etc.

Most of the locals have completely forgotten the famous heros that Kochi produced. Say, if I go to street and ask who was Hendrick Van Rheede, no one knows, whereas he was a man almost similar to Robert Clive to Madras or Warren Hasting/Cornhill to Calcutta. People have almost forgotten Sir Robert Bristow and Lady Bristow, whom once Fort Kochinites respected like their own leader, who lived like a true Fort Kochinite a generation back.

A wax museum and life size recreation of events, would help people to realize their own heritage, A large museum, almost of Guggenheim or Le Lovure, is surely out of thoughts of Govt. Hence a PPP is idealistic. Apart from attracting more tourists, it shall keep the tradition and heritage alive among locals.

Likewise, more promotions have to be done. I am sure, in days to come, Muziris will emerge out, a leader than Fort Kochi, due to its rich heritage value..... But again for Western tourists, its more easy for them to understand Dutch, than Sangam Tamil Era!!!!

As long as its not any hearsays/rumours said by an official closed to an organization, on condition of anonymity, and news backed by solid data figures published by an authority, there is a reason to believe so

http://www.keralatourism.org/destination-wise-foreign-2010.pdf

I hope, there is no reason to disbelief a Government of Kerala document

And I know, what brings you down here!!!!

But let me tell you, the news style of TOI doesn't represent a value or dignity as Hindu or to some extent NIE commands... I never expected this from a National newspaper.......

^^ Wait for one more day to see whether TOI is reporting hearsays or rumours. As per the media you believe Smart City project should start tomorrow(Spet 29). But as per TOI it will be postponed. If the TECOM won't start the SC work tomorrow are you ready to withdraw your allegations against TOI?

^^ Wait for one more day to see whether TOI is reporting hearsays or rumours. As per the media you believe Smart City project should start tomorrow(Spet 29). But as per TOI it will be postponed. If the TECOM won't start the SC work tomorrow are you ready to withdraw your allegations against TOI?

Definitely Not.... I have been reading TOI, Kochi, Kozhikode, Trivandrum, Chennai editions, daily and being a fierce reader myself, I definitely know standards for a newspaper thro' its news reporting style.

I had huge expectations for TOI, obvious to certain personal reasons of mine. But after reading its online editions, I am pretty convinced that the quality of news has really downgraded to a gossip newspaper/tabloid.... I am bit pained to say this, as I have a personal association with this newspaper company.

But what to do? The quality of news really came down. Just like the fact, you are not going to accept Manorama as a quality newspaper for your own obvious reasons (I too have my reasons for it), I believe, I too stick with my observations about TOI, which is not 100% dependent on ONE Smart City etc.

By the way, will you take the pain to go to Kakkanad and click pics of ground clearing there to report that the news was true? The official inauguration, I believe, is slated for Oct last week, while initial ground works to start from tommorrow. I wish, all the best for you and your team, to make a visit to Kakkanad and click pics at the snake infested pits.... Don't forget to call a Snake Charmer too:lol::lol: Thanks to contributions of Previous govt...

Definitely Not.... I have been reading TOI, Kochi, Kozhikode, Trivandrum, Chennai editions, daily and being a fierce reader myself, I definitely know standards for a newspaper thro' its news reporting style.

I had huge expectations for TOI, obvious to certain personal reasons of mine. But after reading its online editions, I am pretty convinced that the quality of news has really downgraded to a gossip newspaper/tabloid.... I am bit pained to say this, as I have a personal association with this newspaper company.

But what to do? The quality of news really came down. Just like the fact, you are not going to accept Manorama as a quality newspaper for your own obvious reasons (I too have my reasons for it), I believe, I too stick with my observations about TOI, which is not 100% dependent on ONE Smart City etc.

By the way, will you take the pain to go to Kakkanad and click pics of ground clearing there to report that the news was true? The official inauguration, I believe, is slated for Oct last week, while initial ground works to start from tommorrow. I wish, all the best for you and your team, to make a visit to Kakkanad and click pics at the snake infested pits.... Don't forget to call a Snake Charmer too:lol::lol: Thanks to contributions of Previous govt...

Definitely Not.... I have other work to do. :) What you are talking about "Your team"? I don't have any team. I am talking about the TOI report not Tvm Vs Ekm :-)

In Delhi, our capital, the Delhi Development Act, gives powers to Delhi Municipality authorities to define how buildings have to come in each zone and how to curb bulidings in area, which the authorites donot want to grow as commerical zone. The law also allows the authorities to raze any commercial structures in residential zone and vice-versa

The application of this same Act in Mumbai will cause civil war.

Firstly, as you yourself have stated during the discussions on VMH, Kochi cannot be compared to Bangalore, Chennai, and by extension Delhi. Delhi has huge tracts of land that make zoning possible, most of land is in the direct possession of DDA and not private players, and the urban-rural divide is clearly visible. In Kerala, the average landholding may be about 5 cents or even less. Not allowing commercial buildings to come up there (regardless of the location) will only help big time capitalist and monopolists while placing restrictions on the small landholder and common-man.

Again, if you place restrictions on MG Road, which area in Kochi is free for more commercial developments? Vytilla, Kadavanthara, Kaloor, Palarivattom Edapally, and even Kakkanad now already have their share of commercial establishments. Do we have enough area in these places to go in for a proper planned commercial district? ....

Then, if you recall, the Delhi government tried to implement the masterplan in 2000 on the strength of a Supreme Court order. Removing illegal factories from residential zones resulted in major riots. During that debate, both side had valid points to offer. The point is, masterplans are not scaroscant, it too can have many defects......

I am saying, we must enforce some reasonable curbs on Ernakulam city center, to avoid area choking in traffic congestion.

Reasonable curbs already exist in the form of Floor Area Ratio, parking regulations, norms for firefighting, pollution control regulations and more. The problem is that corrupt or incompetent (or both) authorities simply do not enforce such stipulations, or care to maintain the facilities available (such as roads, footpath, drainage etc). The need of the hour is to expose and stand up against such corrupt practices.

The suggestions you provide will only serve to legitimize such corruption and encroachments..... for example, if your suggestion is implemented the people who bribed to build a couple of illegal floors will get away with the act, and because of that the neighbour cannot construct even what he is otherwise entitled to.


Whereas some builders have realized this wisely and done things in orderly manner. Jayalakshmi have an Entry from MG Road, while exit thro' Rajaji Road.

a bit off topic, but Jayalakshmi's layout is more the result of desperation rather than any planning or foresight. The strip of land in between the MG Road and Jayalakshmi building is perumboke (govt owned) and the previous LDF government did everything possible to make life difficult for Jayalakshmi. When it became apparent that the entire access to the building itself might be blocked off, they started buying the plots to give them another access to Rajaji Road!

Facilitating also means, visioning things for future.

true. but facilitating does not mean imposing restrictions.

The question here is "what is the vision?" Developing one area need not be by placing restrictions in another area. By all means identify the site for new commercial zones, develop the facilities there, and provide incentives for new businesses to set up shop there. If such new area still cannot develop in its own right without drawing away traffic from existing areas, then either the problem is with such areas or the nature of the developments, or maybe the growth is not enough to sustain such new developments.

Delhi is a model example for this, as several commissioners, including our own Alphonse Joseph have implemented the order in letter and spirit, creating more ordely business entities in main roads.


Delhi is incomparable to Kochi. Of course the approach adopted in Delhi (that is strictly implementing the law) can be applied, but replicating the same laws itself will not work.

If at all, compare Kochi with Mumbai, as these two cities have an almost similar geography and history.

your proposal would definitely create order, but it would be at a severe cost to individual rights and civil liberties.

Remember, Hitler was one of the best administrators Europe has ever seen.

Fashion accessories brand Fastrack has opened two exclusive stores at Nucleus Mall and Bay Pride Mall here. The store exhibits a range of watches, sunglasses, bags, belts, wallets and wristbands. Since the launch of its first store in Pune last year, the company has set up over 35 exclusive stores across the country.

The Pune store has registered a turnover of approximately Rs 2 crore within one year of its launch, a release said. The products are priced between Rs 195 and 3,795.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/marketing/article2497516.ece

The city will witness a get-together of a rare genre this week. Cyber mystics from across the globe will fly down to the Queen of Arabian Sea for two days and will deliberate on the new trends in the international hacking scenario.

Cocon 2011, a global platform where hackers come together to discuss and deliberate new developments will begin in the city on October 7. Over 20 cyber security experts from across the globe, including Michael Kemp from the UK, Celil Unuver from Turkey and Fyodor Yarochkin from Taiwan will speak at the 25 sessions, focusing on various aspects of cyber security, including mobile technology, e-commerce and banking and new challenges in cyber banking.

“The conference will be a platform for thorough discussions on various cyber security aspects, including vulnerabilities of I-Phone and mobile payment gateways. Banking issues and new developments in cyber terrorism will have a special focus at the conference,” said cyber event organiser Manu Zacharia.
With an expected participation of about 400 delegates from the field of cyber security, Cocon will have officials from various government agencies also. The officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), cyber security experts with the Armed Forces - Army, Navy and Indian Airforce - and officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), CBI and Intelligence Bureau will attend the two-day event at IMA House, Kaloor. “We have more than 20 world-renowned security experts and hackers who will speak about banking and cyber security. There are people from Corporates and major IT groups like Infosys, IBM India Software Labs, Asian School of Cyber Laws and various hacker and security groups like Null will share their experiences at the conference. We are still finalising the sponsors and speakers of the conference, which will have 25 sessions in two tracks, including releasing of seven new security tools, 14 pre-conference workshops and release of a security certification,” he said.

Topics to be discussed include Wi-Fi Malware for Fun and Profit, reversible watermarking, pentesting iPhone applications, network security, risks in emerging mobile payment industry in India, security threats and privacy risks of cloud computing. The two-day conference is being organised by the Information Security Research Association (ISRA) along with the Matriux Security Community as part of the International Information Security day.

More details about the conference is available with http://www.informationsecurityday.com/c0c0n/

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hackers-to-brainstorm-in-kochi/189733-60-122.html

How of you have heard the name The Cupcake Factory (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cupcake-Factory/141508149251193) and Anna Raju? Definitely it will on lower side.... But definitely none of you might have missed the beautiful cup cakes found in several pastry shops in the city as well as in lobby cafes of several posh hotels including Gateway or Le Meridien....

One Lady and her passion for baking beautiful small cakes, made those cakes extremely popular in the city, without enough knowledge about the source.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223335_147908165277858_141508149251193_288969_180393_n.jpg

Welcome to Cupcake Factory, where thousands or even lakhs of innovative designed cup cakes and iced cakes takes its life, to mesmerize the lovers and make one's taste buds melt in tempt..

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/208018_10150242454012245_594727244_8002807_2748876_n.jpg

Started by a 25 year old housewife in the city, today it has grown into multi-lakh business. Most of the major hotels, bakery chains, private event managements, cafes are her clients.

Apart from regular corporate clients, Anna Raju have built her own admirers and fans thro' her facebook page which acts as channel for private orders. She bakes according to one's needs and requirements in the city for a minimum order size and this made her quite popular even among local youth.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/306866_184980584903949_141508149251193_418254_3332494_n.jpg

The cupcakes are made in her own kitchen which she calls it as factory at her residence. She actively interacts with customers in her FB Page and take feedbacks.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/296027_197426403659367_141508149251193_453751_1552986503_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/310441_197425733659434_141508149251193_453748_914047499_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/299030_193036420765032_141508149251193_442308_314608654_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207850_142963705772304_141508149251193_259350_5854573_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225225_146982868703721_141508149251193_283750_3678938_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269689_163080280427313_141508149251193_363000_810465_n.jpg

KOCHI: The Kochi port may be struggling to attract more container vessels. But on the tourism side, its prospects seem to be quite safe, remaining the hottest cruise destination.
With the tourist season set to start in November, more and more vessels are scheduled to visit Kochi for the six months starting� October. By the end of March 2012, the Kochi Port will have hosted 50 cruise vessels in the current financial year. Chennai-based Amet Cruises will start its Kochi- based operations this week. For the six-month period from October 2011, to March 2012 alone, 35 cruise vessels are scheduled to call at Kochi. These include large vessels such as Cunard’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and Royal Caribbean International’s ‘Brilliance of the Seas.’ Around 38,000 high-spending passengers and 13,800 crew members are expected to visit Kochi.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tourist-season-kochi-cruising-ahead/190788-60-122.html

Don't know whether its good or bad for our society, but definitely a new trend is happening in Kochi's tourism.

A luxurious stay at a palace in Udaipur, an ayurvedic massage by the sea in Kochi, a spiritual session with a guru in Varanasi or just a leisurely sightseeing trip across Delhi, Agra or Jaipur, does seem like the perfect holiday plan for any couple. This ideal holiday gets even better if you are gay or lesbian and want a customised holiday for your partner and you, without uncomfortable stares or having to explain why two men need a double bed. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) tourism is an emerging trend in India, thanks to the rise in travellers from the US, Europe and Australia.

According to Community Marketing Inc. (CMI) a communications and marketing agency based in the US, over 80% of 3,865 LGBT Americans that were sampled said they would visit or have visited India and prefer it over other destinations in South Asia. "India ranks as no.2 desired cultural or adventure destination just behind Thailand, but ahead of China, South Africa and Japan," says CMI founder and president Thomas Roth.


For travel operators catering to gay tourists, choosing hotels where the staff understands what being gay is about, or using drivers that don't mind their customers - two men or women - holding hands in the back seat, are small instances that help them make a gay tourist comfortable. Indjapink, a tourism agency that conducts customised tours for gay men, gets around 2-3 tour bookings in a month that goes up to 10 bookings in peak season (October to March). "Apart from the US and UK, there is a big market from Greece, Australia, South Africa and Mexico," says Abhinav Goel, founder of Out Journeys, which gets around 70-80 clients per month.

Jaipur, Delhi, Agra, Kochi, Tamil Nadu and Goa are hot destinations for gay travellers. Pink Vibgyor, another agency, which has clients from Europe, US, Middle East, China and Thailand, gets a number of requests for "adventure or spiritual holidays" from gay travellers. "They want to do fun activities together over a week or a month. This can be a pan-India holiday starting from the hills in the north to the beaches down south. They love interacting with the local gay scene and we arrange gay parties for them," says co-founder Rajat Singla.

While Nepal has been the popular gay tourism destination this side of the subcontinent, India's rich culture gives it an edge over neighbouring countries. Sunil Babu Pant, a legislator and founder of Pink Mountain tours in Nepal, says gay visitors to India and Nepal are different from those who go to say Thailand and Bangkok. "This is a mature traveller, in his or her 30s who has had his/her share of fun, and now wants a meaningful holiday," says Pant. These holidays are not sex tourism, insists Pant. "We do not provide escorts, there is no sleaze involved. It is a holiday like any other, only the staff is made aware of the needs of the clients and they are made to feel special," says Indjapink founder Sanjay Malhotra.

Mock weddings are a fun feature added to the itinerary of many gay travellers. Both Indjapink and Pink Vibgyor say they can arrange a Hindu wedding ceremony, for the experience, "We do some mock weddings in heritage hotels in Rajasthan, it is a beautiful setting, and something new for them to take from their holiday," says Singla.

While it does seem like a perfect holiday for gay couples, lesbians will have to wait for their share of this gay tourism, as most operators do not cater to women. "We do have some women clients but it hasn't picked up as much," says Singla.

If the power of the pink pound is rising in the UK and 'gay buying power' on the ascendant in the US, the case isn't much different in India. At $500 for 3 days to $5,000 for a longer "across India" tour, LGBT travel packages do find many takers here.

Even standard travel operators are tapping into this very lucrative set of "double income and no kids" income couples from US and Europe. Vijay Thakur, President of Indian Association of Tour Operators says, "They understand they have to cater to this market to improve their business and though they may not publicise very openly, most operators go that extra length for these high-profile tourists."

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-an-emerging-gay-tourism-hub/Article1-755100.aspx


Perhaps, the trend of Gayism might not be new for Kerala, as it has been there in private for pretty long time.... But as a tourist concept, its slightly shocking!!!

The Union Home Ministry has decided to set up a branch office of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Kerala in the wake of several terror-related cases having links to the State.

The new office, at the Superintendent of Police (SP) level, will be located in Kochi. The premier investigation agency has branch offices now in Hyderabad and Guwahati. Another office will come up in Lucknow, also at the SP level. Besides, a bigger unit headed by a Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police will come up in Mumbai soon, highly-placed sources told The Hindu here on Tuesday.

The Hyderabad office now has jurisdiction over all southern States including Kerala, and the Guwahati office over all the seven north-eastern States. The Hyderabad office is being headed by a DIG and the Guwahati office, an SP.

Sources say that a fully operational office is necessary in Kerala for better coordination of officers instead of shuttling between Hyderabad and the State, where a makeshift office now functions. The setting up of the new offices forms part of the gradual expansion of the NIA in the country.

FRAMEWORK

The NIA's organisational framework includes its Director-General and Special Director-General at the top level with two Inspector-Generals of Police (IG) for Administration and Training, and Investigation. There are four DIGs under the IG (Investigation).

Sources say that seven out of the 30 cases being investigated by the NIA are in the State. Of these, 28 are handled by the headquarters in New Delhi and the remaining two in Guwahati. T.K. Rajmohan, SP, is in charge of the cases in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

Earlier this year, the NIA had taken over the case of the attack on T.J. Joseph, teacher at Newman College, Thodupuzha. Recently, the NIA had issued a lookout notice and sought the help of the Interpol as some of the accused are at large in Gulf countries.

Investigators suspect a Kerala connection to the bomb blasts outside the Delhi High Court on September 7 this year. They have verified the statements of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, Thadiyantavide Nazir and Sarfaraz Nawaz, lodged in the Bangalore Central Prison, in this connection.

Officers have confirmed that a transnational network, Tablighi Jamaat, has been involved in the recruitment of young people for creating disturbances and for operating sleeper cells in various parts of the country. One of the cases being investigated by the NIA in the State is that of LeT operative Abdul Jaleel who has recruited young people for Jihad training in Pakistan.

Another significant case that has been transferred to the NIA last year was the hijacking and gutting of a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus at Kalamassery in 2005 for the release of an accused then lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison. A three-day training camp organised by the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) at Wagamon in 2008 and an assembly of SIMI at Binanipuram to wage war against the country are others.

The NIA special court in Kochi had given the verdict in the twin-blast cases that rocked Kozhikode city on March 3, 2006.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article2528812.ece

One of Kerala oldest and most pompous carnival, the Cochin Carnival is all set for a makeover from this year onwards.

The Carnival will for the first time in its history will have a Manual of Code guiding the participants for a proper and standardized behaviour. Earlier several floats and participants have reported/alleged to exhibit vulgar positions. The new laws will prohibit any floats that has a vulgar meaning or any of political representation.

A VIP Pavillon will soon set up and will mark for a mega show spread over 4 days.

One of Kerala oldest and most pompous carnival, the Cochin Carnival is all set for a makeover from this year onwards.

The Carnival will for the first time in its history will have a Manual of Code guiding the participants for a proper and standardized behaviour. Earlier several floats and participants have reported/alleged to exhibit vulgar positions. The new laws will prohibit any floats that has a vulgar meaning or any of political representation.

A VIP Pavillon will soon set up and will mark for a mega show spread over 4 days.
Really? Any photo or video? :tongue3:

Really? Any photo or video? :tongue3:

Vulgar doesn't mean anything sexy or adult nature stuff... Normally several youngsters will dress like foreigners and make fun of them. There used to floats that are political in nature, say Anti- US Imperialism etc.... Somethings they dress like old christian ladies and poses for photographs in a not-so decent way......

You might seen Chotta Mumbai movie.... Its almost the same on ground....

Now, that things are getting prohibited. Only decent and social, cultural relevant themes will be allowed. No bashing on any foreigners or their culture will be allowed......

The third edition of the Kerala Health Tourism 2011 – International Conference and Exhibition on Health Tourism will be held during October 21-22, 2011 at Le Meridien Kochi. The Kerala Health Tourism 2011 would be organised by the The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and would highlight the emerging trends, opportunities and challenges in the Indian Health Tourism arena and discuss preparedness of Indian hospitals etc.

According to a report in www.thehindubusinessline.com, it will also be a congregation of major hospitals, hotels, health insurance companies, policy-makers, tourism promotion boards, tourist resorts, health travel and tour operators and international institutions for promotion of Health Tourism.

Other than the valedictory session, there would be eight plenary sessions on International Experiences and Best Practices; Standardisation, Accreditation and Quality Care; Dental Tourism: Kerala: Mecca of Ayurveda – Challenges and Opportunities; Health Tourism in Kerala – The Way Forward; Role of International and Domestic Insurance Companies/TPAs/Medical Tourism Operations; Expectations of International Medical Tourists, and Kerala – Making of a Preferred Health Tourism Destination.

Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister, Kerala; AP Anil Kumar, Tourism Minister, Kerala; Dr G Madhavan Nair, former ISRO Chairman; Dr Girdhar J Gyani, Secretary General, Quality Council of India and Chief Executive Officer, National Accreditation Board for Hospital and Healthcare Providers (NABH); Dr Philip Augustine, Managing Director and CEO, Lakeshore Hospital & Research Centre Ltd are expected to participate in the event.

http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=11942&sid=1

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_horizontal/article-images/diwali4.jpg.crop_display.jpg
Cochin Gujaratis in Diwali Spree..


As million pin points of colour wink in and out of existence in the night sky and the light from a thousand diyas illuminate the verandas of freshly-painted homes, one realises that Diwali is becoming a prominent festival in Kochi.

With many north Indians and Gujaratis settling in and around the city, Diwali is no longer a low-key affair. The day is considered auspicious by Hindus and Jains as the festival commemorates the return of Lord Ram after his 14-year exile from the kingdom of Ayodhya.

A sizeable population of north Indians reside in Mattancherry and every year they celebrate Diwali with religious fervour and colour and Malayalis too have made the festival their own. Kochi-based Gujarati Rekha Shah, says, “During Diwali, everybody in the locality gets together and celebrate. Even my Malayali friends and neighbours clean their houses, light rows of lamps, exchange sweets and burst crackers.”

Things have changed in Kochi and one no longer needs to travel to Mumbai or Gujarat to embellish their houses with fancy candles, door hangings and lanterns. Today these are easily available at reasonable prices at the Gujarati Street in Mattancherry.

Panampilly Nagar resident Pooja Somani, says, “It is easy for us to introduce Malayalis to our culture. They usually watch soaps where they see how north Indian families get together and celebrate Diwali. Malayalis are attracted to this culture and tradition and they get along with our families and celebrate the festival with the same enthusiasm.” The five-day festival starts with Dhanteras, followed by Choti Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.

Mattancherry resident Rajeshree Kotecha says there are around 1,000 Gujarati families in this locality and every year the number increases.

On the first day (Dhanteras), a small puja is conducted and it is also considered auspicious to buy gold or silver on this day, she adds.“I think in Kochi, more Malayalis flock to jewellers to buy ornaments on this day,” she says.

There are several communities formed in the city so that people can come together and celebrate the festival. Rajesh Chande, a Mattancherry resident as well as an active member of the Gujarati Association says, “A day before Diwali, we invite everyone in the building, arrange some programmes and celebrate.

” For the first time, the Kochi Corporation and district administration have decided to celebrate ‘Deepolsav Diwali-2011’ in association with Shri Cochin Gujarati Mahajan wherein people will be able to witness the rich culture of Gujarat. Cultural programmes and competitions will be held from Oct. 26 to 29 at the Gujarati school in Mattancherry.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/kochi/kochi-embraces-festival-lights-fun-847

Urban Cities Census: Kerala, UP share top slot
That Kerala is straying away from the village concept is scarcely news, and when it comes to metros, Kerala may still have nothing to match Mumbai or New Delhi. Nevertheless, future Kerala could prove to be one unbroken urban spread.:)
Provisional figures on Urban Agglomerations/Cities of Census 2011 show that while Kerala is nowhere near the top in the matter of metro size, it shares the top slot with Uttar Pradesh for having the largest number of urban agglomerations with ten lakh-plus population. Both Kerala and Uttar Pradesh have seven urban agglomerations with more than ten lakh people each. In second place is Maharashtra with six.
Census officials define urban agglomerations as ‘a continuous urban spread comprising one or more towns with their adjoining outgrowth(s).’ Ports, university campuses and other known places adjoining cities make up ‘outgrowths.’
Kochi tops urban agglomerations in the state with a population of 21.18 lakh followed by Kozhikode, 20.31 lakh. Thrissur (18.55 lakh) and Malappuram (16.99 lakh). Thiruvananthapuram, which has the largest municipal corporation in terms of area, is sixth with a population of 16.87 lakh. Kannur (16.42 lakh) and Kollam (11.10 lakh) lag in the state list.
By comparison, the Mumbai urban agglomeration, numero uno at national-level, has a population of 1.84 crore followed by New Delhi - 1.63 crore, followed by Kolkata (1.41 crore). In the south, Chennai tops with 86.9 lakh. Since Kerala towns aren’t distinct entities, standing alone in the midst of rural sprawl unlike in other states, the ballooning in size of urban agglomerations in Kerala is nothing to be amazed at, say Census officials. “Urban agglomerations here have simply merged, increased in size owing to the gradual disappearance of rural areas that lay in between,” said deputy director, Census Operations, Kerala, A N Rajeev.

IBN (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/urban-cities-census-kerala-up-share-top-slot/195959-60-116.html)

http://laxmanjagtap.in/images/deep_big.jpg

The Deepotsav- 2011, the first ever official Govt sponsored Diwali celebrations in the state, will kick off tommorrow with District Collector Sheikh Pareek switching on automated 1001 lamps in Mattancherry. The entire Mattancherry-Fort Kochi islands will go under full illumination along with Port Trust HQ. The special function is organized by district administration at Gujarati School Grounds

At 7:45 Pm, 120 Mass Aratis will be done, while from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm cultural programs will be staged.

A mega Dandiya dance will commence from 9:30 pm to late night. Along with this a Gujarati-Marvadi food festival will be held in the grounds from 8:00 pm onwards. 8 counters will be open serving some of the authentic Gujarati, Rajasthani and Marwadi foods along with sweet distribution.

From 10:00 pm to 10:30 Pm, there will be an array of fireworks display.

From tomorrow till 29th of this month, cultural festivities will go on in various avenues of Mattancherry, with Gujarati School Grounds forming the main venue..... On 29th, a grand finale will be done along with floating of 300 lamps into Kochi Backwaters. Union Minister for state of Civil Supplies- KV Thomas, PWD Minister Ibrahimkunjnu, Ports Minister K.Babu and Tourism Minister Anil Kumar will be the special guests.......

India Celebrates Diwali with lights......

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312692_293378580680794_197531123598874_1213380_4241196_n.jpg

And this makes India looks better from moon, on ever of Diwali

Happy DIWALI to all

THAMASOMA JYOTHIRGAMAYA

^^ That is a photoshoped version of original Nasa pic:lol:, anyway it looks nice

we were reading report of Times of IndiaI(TOI) starting an edition from Kochi. is there any update? I was asking since there is suddenly an increasing number of Times of India hoardings particularly the ones placed above Shops etc.

A very happy news for all of us. Kochi Based Muthoot Finance and its owner M.G George ranked in India's top 50 Billionaires as per Forbes Magazine. M.G George is a new entrant and probably for the first time, a Malayali entering the list, with a $ 1.1 Billion Net worth.:banana::banana:

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/29102011/29102011-md-ek-9/14612625.JPG

14 New billionaires are listed in latest edition of Forbes India Billionaire List. Thank God, Malayalees will make presence everywhere!!!!

Read the full report about Muthoot Finance and how M.G Muthoot entered into India's top 50 Billionaire's List from latest issue of Forbes India.

M.G. George Muthoot is a billionaire from lending against the yellow metal to Indians, the world's biggest hoarders.

http://images.forbes.com/media/2011/10/26/1026_muthoot_398x303.jpg

Pravish Kuttickat, 35, is a seasoned borrower in his hometown of Cochin in Kerala, a palm frond of a state trimmed by the Arabian Sea. The hotel manager has taken loans for a car, a family holiday in Malaysia and even for buying his wife an expensive anniversary gift. Kuttickat, who earns $2,000 a month, was able to borrow up to $3,000 at a time by pledging family jewelry, including his own gold chain adorned with a King George V pendant, with Muthoot Finance, India's leading provider of "gold loans."

Kuttickat knows full well that the interest rates of 12% to 25% that Muthoot charges are more than at any bank but asks, "Why go through the circus at a bank when you can get a loan here in the shortest time in a pleasant, humane way?"

It is midmorning and half a dozen customers are lined up behind Kuttickat at Muthoot Finance's gold loan counters in downtown Cochin. They need funds for a variety of reasons: college admission fees, a medical emergency, a family wedding. As the day advances, the rush of customers—they include housewives, traders, farmers—accelerates. Roughly $2 million in household ornaments reposes at this particular branch.

Indians continue to be the world's biggest buyers and hoarders of gold, both as jewelry and as investment. They constitute 32% of demand and 18,000 tons of supply. After dipping in 2009, purchase volumes shot up last year and were increasing nearly 10% in the first half of this year, says the World Gold Council. Rural villagers and middle-class Indians tend to invest a chunk of their savings in the yellow metal and love to flaunt their jewels during festivals and weddings. In times of need gold is a liquid asset that can be quickly sold or pledged, transformed into a virtual insurance policy in a country that lacks social welfare.

Lending against that vast reserve of household gold has become a lucrative business niche. Leading that pack is Muthoot Finance, flagship of the Muthoot Group. With $475 million in revenues, Muthoot Finance has dispensed 25 million gold loans so far and holds 120 tons of gold jewelry. Its 3,210 branches, a bigger network than ICICI Bank, India's largest private sector lender, complete 70,000 loans daily. Muthoot's rates are still a cheaper option than the traditional village money lender, who can ask a usurious 40%.

"Gold-pawning may be a hoary trade, but we take the credit for making it an organized business and giving it respectability," says M.G. George Muthoot, 62, the bespectacled chairman. At the company's modest headquarters in Cochin, he sits at a desk with photos of his forefathers in the background. The third generation of the Muthoot business clan, he's found his own pot of gold in this business. The May listing of Muthoot Finance, in which he holds 80% along with three brothers, earned him a spot for the first time on the FORBES ASIA rich list. As the eldest and group head, he's ranked at No. 50 with a fortune of $1.1 billion.

"We made the gold loan process transparent; we built customer-friendly branches so people feel they are walking into a bank rather than a shady pawnbroker," says the mechanical engineer, who normally oversees Muthoot's strategy and expansion from New Delhi, 1,300 miles away, while his three siblings man the southern post.

The business is a happy intermingling of India's confined credit markets, its citizens' craze for gold and the recently rocketing prices of the metal.

Investors panned for shares of Muthoot Finance, which were 24 times oversubscribed. Nine months earlier private equity firms, led by Barings PE Partners India and Matrix India Partners, grabbed 6%. "Muthoot Finance provides quick credit to an underserved market through a unique and cheap distribution model," says Munish Dayal, partner at Barings India. "It's a high-growth market with huge potential."

Muthoot's billboards brag that you can come in with gold jewelry and walk out with cash in five minutes. The com-pany trains every employee to appraise jewelry, a multistep process that involves chemical and sound tests, and examination under a magnifying glass. Up to 70% of the gold's value by weight can be borrowed. There are no charges for appraisal or for safe custody of the gold.

Despite checks and audits, Muthoot faces challenges like stolen or spurious gold, staff fraud and burglary. "If this business was as easy as it sounds, all my branch managers would be setting up their own gold loan companies," says M.G. George. No bank could easily get up to speed. Nevertheless, competition is heating up. Listed Manappuram Finance, with roots in Kerala and Muthoot's closest rival, promises to dispense gold loans in three minutes.

While soaring gold prices have only boosted Muthoot's collateral, the company is covered for a 40% fall in prices with its 70% loan-to-value limit, plus it excludes the worth of any gems as an additional hedge.

While gold loans are generally offered for a year, 40% of Muthoot's customers return within four months to reclaim their pledged jewelry, says George Alexander Muthoot, the company's managing director and the youngest of the third-generation Muthoots in business. Nearly all borrowers repay within the year, while the remaining get a further six months before the jewelry is treated as a nonperforming asset and auctioned. Only 1% of the jewelry goes under the gavel. "We don't need any recovery agents. Our managers sit in their chairs and conduct business; we call them chairmen," jokes M.G. George.

From its gold-lending base, Muthoot has expanded into other financial segments from money transfers and foreign exchange to shares and commodity trading. In keeping with the odd mix that characterizes so many Indian groups, the family owns 1,500 acres of rubber and cardamom plantations, operates houseboat resorts, sells insurance, dabbles in travel services, real estate and vehicle leasing, and runs a chain of medical diagnostic centers, nursing schools and even a radio station.

The Muthoots are one of the wealthiest business clans in Kerala, a communist-ruled state not known for being business-friendly. The group was founded by Muthoot Ninan Mathai, M.G. George's grandfather, in 1887. Ninan Mathai traded in timber and food grains, supplying rations to large British-run plantations. The company derives its logo, two elephants standing trunk-to-trunk, from the herd that the family used to own to log timber.

The business passed to the son, M. George Muthoot, who in 1939 diversified into financial services, starting as a chit fund, a homegrown savings scheme.

In 1971 the firm was renamed Muthoot Bankers to reflect its expansion into lending by using gold jewelry as security. In Muthoot's favor, gold loans were a segment that India's state-owned banks shied away from as there was considerable risk of nakli (fake) gold. Muthoot's new business also coincided with the Persian Gulf boom when Keralites joined the exodus from India. The loans proved a boon to the embarking lower middle class, as banks did not fund their visa and ticket expenses.

"It was a timely, useful business," recalls George Alexander, 56, a chartered accountant by training. By the mid-1990s the firm had grown to 150 branches. In 2001, when India brought in new regulation that stipulated that only a public limited company could call itself a bank, the company changed its name to Muthoot Finance.

Current Chairman M.G. George entered the family trade during his off-school hours at age 7. Before long he was counting cash. In his 20s he moved to New Delhi on his own, ultimately setting up a paper mill before returning to the family fold in 1979.

The brothers agree that they've had to change with the times. "Who would have thought we would give out shares of the company to outsiders or take loans to do business?" asks George Alexander. To tap a younger segment of customers the company will offer loans against gold ETFs. Says the chairman: "We want to grow to $20 billion in revenues. We have a long way to go."

A Business of Georges and "Sirs"

The Muthoots belong to Kerala's land-owning Syrian Christian community, who believe they are direct descendants of St. Thomas, one of the apostles of Christ. M.G. George Muthoot is trustee of the Malankara Orthodox Church, an influential position in the community. The company's branches countrywide start work each morning with a prayer. Its headquarters is unremarkable, adorned with plastic plants and framed prints. Among the few luxuries is the chairman's Mercedes-Benz, and a low-end model at that.

The brothers and their sons, all except for one, have George in their name. The clan meets every month for a daylong "family council" to discuss business in great detail. (All of them are referred to by their employees as "sir," including the youngest. In turn, the Muthoots address their staff the same way.) Per tradition, the girls are married young and get no share.

Grief visited the family when Paul Muthoot, the second of the chairman's three sons, was murdered on a remote highway late at night in August 2009. He was an executive director and headed the group's hospitality ventures. The initial police report termed "road rage" as the cause of death. But the family suspected foul play and called for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Nothing new has emerged since. –by Saritha Rai.

http://images.forbes.com/media/assets/forbes_home_logo.gif (http://www.forbes.com/global/2011/1107/india-billionaires-11-george-muthoot-hoarders-kuttickat-rai.html)

Other than the multicrore software projects n metro railways,which is definitely a big plus on the growth of the city and the state, is there any other project on planning which is targetted at agricultural sector. At the end,its all about earning the money for their daily bread, what if the bread is too costly to manage.Is there any projects planned by GoK? Guyz,anyone?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y40HcHnktEI/TdOZfqwFnGI/AAAAAAAAABI/VEuzEbpBgMc/s1600/t+m+jacob.jpg

Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister, T.M Jacob passed away.

RIP and heartfelt condolences

RIP Sir! You were one among the best of the sons of this state. We will miss you!

Other than the multicrore software projects n metro railways,which is definitely a big plus on the growth of the city and the state, is there any other project on planning which is targetted at agricultural sector. At the end,its all about earning the money for their daily bread, what if the bread is too costly to manage.Is there any projects planned by GoK? Guyz,anyone?

Agriculture sector has been on the decline for ages in our state. There might be several projects and processes that envisage revival, but i don't expect that to help it on a big scale. Very few people in Kerala are interested in this sector as the profit depends on various factors such as climate (half of the year is covered by rain), high labour cost, land availability etc. and due to the perception that the land used for cultivation can yield more fruit from other sectors such as real estate.

RIP Sir! You were one among the best of the sons of this state. We will miss you!

+1;

RIP Sir! You were one among the best of the sons of this state. We will miss you!

+1. A very big loss for Kochi and the State.

I had the opportunity to interact with Mr T M Jacob first hand some 15 years ago, and found him one of the rare politician who made it a point to study the matter in-depth and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision; and follow due procedures when implementing things while still not letting following due procedures delay things inordinately. He was a gem of a parliamentarian, and a true "gentleman politician"

Our surviving leaders would do well to reflect on and adopt his style of functioning.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1554/keralamatavu3.jpg

Happy Birthday Kerala

Today November 1st, the day when we Malayalam speaking having common culture and common civilization, joined our hands together to form our own state Kerala- the God's Own country.

The above picture Kerala Mathavu was a concept used in Ayika Kerala Movement (United States of Kerala Movement) in 1930s to fuel for integration all Malayalam speaking places into one lap.

Today we respect her, we all now became Keralites. Its our 54th Birthday.

Its more special for Kochinites, as it was we, who spearheaded for Unification. Our great King Ayika Kerala Varma Maharaja lead the movement and it was on November 1st 1945, the Kochi Parliament also passed unanimously for United States of Kerala. So in every way, we have extra joy, that the Kerala we today is because of our forefather's vision and efforts.....

Lets all wish

Happy Keralapiravi Day.....
Happy Malayalam Day

http://www.baijujoseph.com/My-India-A-Land-for-All/Kerala-The-Gods-Own-Country/Kerala-Nature-at-its-best/Kerala-Nature-24/1036118407_XXyuZ-L.jpg

^^
It is time that Gok tries to do something about it. I really dont think private parties will take interest in this because as you said It does not give them back much profit. Thats why I see GoK to play a big part in this. Why they are not considering the possibility of starting an agricultural park somewhere ,ofcourse the land and conditions should favor agriculture. I dont think Kerala is having very less places suited for this type of project.

^^
It is time that Gok tries to do something about it. I really dont think private parties will take interest in this because as you said It does not give them back much profit. Thats why I see GoK to play a big part in this. Why they are not considering the possibility of starting an agricultural park somewhere ,ofcourse the land and conditions should favor agriculture. I dont think Kerala is having very less places suited for this type of project.

Well, the age of individual farmers working in less than an acre kind of farms is obsolete in Kerala. Our economy and lifestyle has changed to a first world order with gulf remittances, higher education, consumerism etc.

Now its the age of corporate farming, where corporate companies do high quality machine intensive farming adopting high yield seeds, better technology, direct marketing etc. The problem is that the ghosts of yesteryears communism and even propaganda of equitating it feudalistic thoughts makes a serious issue for our food security.

Perhaps, once corporate farming done, several independent middlemen which spoils our food distribution system can be avoided and consumers better.

We are not like in AP or Karnataka, ever vast tracts of land is available for farming. Whatver small amounts of land which we have, it can combined and lessed for such corporate farming bodies, where the produce more in little land using multiple techniques. This requires more awareness and scientific thoughts, which will also fuel for better agricultural research and scientific farming.

The govt is mooting a SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL ZONE in Kuttanad in Kerala, which has already got struck with middle men and bureaucrats playing spoilsport with intentions for enlarging their wallets. Such things can be avoided, if such zones are to be developed by large corporate companies, who will try to do in a professional and scientific manner.

Though we claim to have been educated to highest level, lot of fears and unnessecary slogans of past are deep rooted in our society, which again require a new age renaissance.

The govt is mooting a SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL ZONE in Kuttanad in Kerala, which has already got struck with middle men and bureaucrats playing spoilsport with intentions for enlarging their wallets. Such things can be avoided, if such zones are to be developed by large corporate companies, who will try to do in a professional and scientific manner.
I really hope it comes out well. Without food security within our state, we will be nothing in the coming days. See how some TN politicians dare to block the food supplies to kerala whenever there is some developement regarding the Mullapperiyar issue in favor of Kerala. Its only a sign of things to come as far as I see.

I really hope it comes out well. Without food security within our state, we will be nothing in the coming days. See how some TN politicians dare to block the food supplies to kerala whenever there is some developement regarding the Mullapperiyar issue in favor of Kerala. Its only a sign of things to come as far as I see.
+1000

I also forgot to mention,

Today November 1st. Its 30 years over, marking transforming an uninhabited village called Kakkanad, said to abode of wolves and dogs, into one of nerve center of Kerala's IT Map as well as biggest residential suburb of a metro in making Kochi.

Yes, it was a vision of one Collector called Rajan, by shifting the seat of district administration from the heart of Ernakulam Mainland city to a remote interior village called Kakkanad, paved way to marking start of Kakkanad-Thrikkakara urban belt. As usual to Kerala, he faced intensive protests and all kind of obstalces in his decision to move to Kakkanad. But the vision and foresight of this man, today made one of Kerala's biggest IT/ITES as well as hub and now aiming to become a Smart City.

Happy Birthday Kakkanad- the seat of Ernakulam District Administration.

Once a forlorn area, Kakkanad is now among the most sought-after spots in Kochi. That perhaps has been the definitive impact of the change in location, three decades ago, of the Ernakulam district headquarters from the confines of the Kanayannur Taluk Office building to the sprawling office complex at Kakkanad.

And 30 years into its existence, having shifted base on November 1, 1981, the collectorate is now the very pulse of Ernakulam.

The-then Collector K R Rajan, the driving force behind that historic venture, told Express that the move has paid off handsome dividends.

“The basic amenities were almost nil then. There were no bus routes even. But now see the change. Everyone wants a place to live in Kakkanad. It has grown into a place with innumerable opportunities and many facilities,” he said.

One of the major improvements that happened was the Seaport - Airport Road. This development became phenomenal in making Kakkanad one of the most sought-after residential areas in the district.

“Builders saw it as a place where they could reap many harvests,” said Gil Roy, an employee of the Civil Station for the past twenty-five years. Central Government offices also came under the same roof in Kendriya Bhavan, which was yet another major development, he added. Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) also followed suit. Today, most of the activities in the city centre round Kakkanad which is a major development hub. Though the people who worked behind it had a vision, they had to encounter a lot of bottlenecks.

Rajan said that transferring the collectorate from the city to Kakkanad was not an easy task. “I still remember the furore over the transfer of the collectorate. None of the employees wanted to shift as Kakkanad lacked basic amenities and to accentuate the trouble, there were hardly any buses plying on the route. Besides, there were hardly any accommodation facilities. All these had to be settled first,” he says.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kakkanad--leads-the-way/198135-60-122.html

cN6iiEmtHR4
Watch the second story

The Cochin City Police Commissioner Ajith Kumar clarified that Kochi has the least crime report across major cities of India. Clarifying the city police's stand, after NCRB released records showing high number of crime in Kochi, the Commissioner said that, on a careful analysis only less than 1000 crimes are reported in the City that falls under Major offences which violates human life like Murder, Rape, Robbery etc. The City Police records shows that last year, more than 23,500 cases have been registered under IPC Offence for Rash driving, which is a most minor offence with punishment of just Rs 1000 as fine.

This became nessecary, after High Court passed order prohibiting Police to charge the same offence under Motor Vehicle Act which now requires a Magistrate's permission. Due to this, the Police switched to IPC charging for the same, which sharply increased the crime records.

The commissioner said, out of 56 Major cities, the city is now 56th in Major crimes, even far below to any city in Kerala, which proves the effectiveness of policing in the city.

Without food security within our state, we will be nothing in the coming days. See how some TN politicians dare to block the food supplies to kerala whenever there is some developement regarding the Mullapperiyar issue in favor of Kerala.

You guys are not seeing the other side. It is BS saying that if one neighbouring state doesn’t give supplies like rice or vegetables it will be a doomsday for us.
I would like to see it from another angle. It will affect the livelihood of many farmers in that state. I remember reading about the suicides of chicken farmers in Namakkal when the supply to Kerala was slowed down due to the ‘Kozhi Vasantha’ disease.

We will try out alternate ways for getting the supplies, there are other routes and states. Mallus are smart in that. Only thing is that we should have cash to buy, and the percapita income levels of keralites are among the highest in India. If you have cash, products will find a way to where you are. While many crib that we don’t have enough agricultural production, they are not aware of the other sector which brings in cash. It is the cash crops. Infact it is Jawaharlal Nehru’s advise to kerala to focus on cash crops and earn the much needed foreign exchange. Kerala tops in the production of cash crops including spices, rubber, etc. Sell rubber, spices etc and use that money to buy rice or vegetables.

Alternately, scarcity is the mother of invention. If we are having shortages, we will try to find out alternatives. Rather than large scale cultivation, everybody can think of having ‘Adukkal Thottams’ (Of course not for Rice, eventhough things are getting better in cooperative farming in that sector also). In Trivandrum Corporation, along with Kudumbashree there are such schemes to be self sufficient as far as daily needs are concerned.

Best example is the blockade of supply of ‘Sand’ from South TN to Trivandrum and other southern districts. From the time I know Trivandrum was getting sand from Nagercoil and Tirunelveli (Tamraparni River). Some 2 years back, on the pretext of some court order, TN stopped the sale of sand across the borders. The reason is said to be the stoppage of Neyyar water to the Kanyakumari dist. Checkposts were erected and shoot at sight orders were also issued for those smuggling sand across the border. This was exactly the time when I started the construction of my new home in TVM. The prices shot up and then we began to think of alternatives. Then MSand became popular and ‘Poabsons’ made good money. We even imported sand via Ship from Gujarat. And I think there were talks of getting sand from GULF. We learnt to live with it. Nobody has stopped construction since the sand is not coming from Kanyakumari. I have also completed the construction of my home in a grand way.

What happened to the poor guys on the other side? Historically most of the construction labour, material suppliers etc in TVM are from Kanyakumari dist. This blockade has affected them. My neighbour is a material agent and I get to see many of the suppliers who comes to his house to get orders. These guys even risk their lives driving through alternate routes or crashing through barriers.

^^^^

I join with Sudheeshbhai's comments.... If TN blocks supplies, it can be done via other states etc.

Well, the priority of increased agricultural production is not bound whether TN supplies are threaten or not. It should be bound by basic principle of sel-reliance to the maximum.

Ofcourse, we cannot be sel-reliant always. But atleast maximum has to be done by us. In addition, the paddy fields is an important part of our eco-system and loss of such fields will have serious impact on our environment. Leaving fields barren over a period of time, will force it to be part of real estate deals. It can be curbed only thro' profitable cultivation. For that, small scale farmers using conventional techniques won't be profitable. Thus I foresee the importance of corporate farming in our context.

^^^^

Well, the priority of increased agricultural production is not bound whether TN supplies are threaten or not. It should be bound by basic principle of sel-reliance to the maximum.


Its not just about TN , it just an example and you know it..
In addition, the paddy fields is an important part of our eco-system and loss of such fields will have serious impact on our environment. Leaving fields barren over a period of time, will force it to be part of real estate deals. It can be curbed only thro' profitable cultivation. For that, small scale farmers using conventional techniques won't be profitable. Thus I foresee the importance of corporate farming in our context.

I agree to this. This is just what I was interested in knowing. Its good that we have different ways of getting it done;of course with money power. Those who does not have much money? Who cares... I feel this is not the forum to talk about these issues . End of discussion :cheers:

Cross posting from Metro Thread...... The suggestive names of Kochi Metro. What do you think?

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_horizontal/article-images/4dc-(1).jpg.crop_display.jpg
Deccan Chronicle resident editor John Mary hands over the shortlisted names for Kochi Metro to managing director Tom Jose on Thursday. Senior members of the DC team in Kochi look on.


With the target date for completing the Metro project set at four years, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) managing director Mr Tom Jose has his task cut out. After returning from his routine weekly trip to Delhi where he “chases the project”, he spoke to this newspaper about the project’s progress.

Q: At what stage is the Kochi Metro project now?

A: It is now before the Project Infrastructure Board (PIB) of the Union government. It will take a couple of weeks for the Board to vet the proposals and add suggestions.

It will then go to an empowered committee before reaching the Cabinet for final clearance. We expect the Cabinet’s approval in the next four to six weeks.:banana::banana:

Q: The project is modelled after the Chennai Metro. Are you looking for any kind of private investment in the project, like in the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which despite initial objections, proved to be a successful venture?

A: CIAL is a huge success as the airport generates substantial revenue, but one can’t expect the Metro to do it in that scale. The Metro might take 20 years to break even.

The return on investment may be around six per cent. SBI Cap has been entrusted to look into the feasibility of private participation. Apart from 15 per cent each of state and central government equity, 51 per cent is going to be the loan component.

The question of whether to go to the public for investment is yet to be finalized. As the Centre will also have equity in the project, we need to have its concurrence.

Q: CIAL’s success is partly attributed to the commercial exploitation of the land in its hand whereby it generates additional revenue. Can’t you look at a similar strategy?

A: We are actively examining the issue of generating additional revenue from Metro stations. I have seen it in Russia where metro stations provide shopping opportunities. If we can provide ATMs, bill payment counters and other public convenience, people will definitely use them.

Stations can function as hubs of public utilities if we can also give adequate parking facilities. On the last issue, we will look at vertical automated parking, where customers can leave the vehicle at a parking counter from where it is taken to a slot via a conveyer belt.

Q: A major task is going to be land acquisition. What is the progress on that front?

A: The survey has been completed. Two units have been constituted for land acquisition. Notification for acquisition will be issued soon. We expect the task to be completed within 10 months.

Q: A four-year target is set for completing the project. Are you confident of meeting the deadline?

A: It all hinges on how fast we can complete the land acquisition. Construction work can begin in 10 months if we have at least 80 per cent of land in custody. We expect to finish the project four years from the date of sanction.

Q: The project cost has been revised to be about `4,800 crore. What kind of cost escalation do you expect if the project is delayed?

A: I want to complete the project on time. If a delay occurs, the cost escalation will be roughly around 5 per cent.

Q: How has the response of the Union government been to the project?

A: Union Minister for Urban Development Mr Kamal Nath is keen on completing the project on time. So is Dr Sudhir Krishna, the secretary in charge of the ministry. The project’s progress is assessed every week.:banana:

Q: What kind of daily ridership do you expect for Kochi Metro?

A: We would like to have at least 2.5 lakh riders a day. This will help us break-even in 20 years. But it depends on many factors. Delhi Metro has turned out to be a huge success, as attracts more passengers than expected.

I think if we ensure punctuality people will prefer the Metro over other modes of transport, considering the traffic congestion in Kochi. A Metro ride will cost you (`12 to ` 30) slightly more than a bus ride, but it will be considerably less than an auto-rickshaw fare. The Metro fare is decided by the Metro Fare Regulatory Authority.

Metro man speaks to Deccan chronicle

Confident of completing project in four years

The managing director says it all hinges on how fast we can complete the land acquisition. Construction work can begin in 10 months if we have at least 80% of land in custody. I want to complete the project on time.

‘Excited about DC contest’

While receiving names from Deccan Chronicle team, managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd Tom Jose said he was really excited about the DC contest on christening the Kochi Metro.

“I’m very very happy you took this initiative. The names suggested by your readers are worth considering. But, I’m more excited about Metro-Max which is very innovative, cosmopolitan yet traditional”, Tom Jose said.

Shortlisted names ARE...

* Nabeel Muhammed - Ente Metro and Nammude Metro
* Subin V Sivasas – Metro Savari
* Maya Dileep – Malayala Metro
* P.A.Abraham – Ente Metro
* Jojo Joseph – Swandum Metro and Metro Yatra

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/it%E2%80%99s-your-metro-it%E2%80%99s-your-name-671


Leading Ad Guru Prathap Sudhan suggests the name METROMAX for Kochi Metro

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_horizontal/article-images/4prathap.jpg.crop_display.jpg

This newspaper’s call to readers to come up with names for the Kochi Metro received enthusiastic response with about 1200 entries coming in.

Our internal panel vetted these entries and shortlisted 50.

These were further filtered and the 40 best ones were handed over to our panel head and advertising guru Mr Prathap Suthan who then took up the challenging task of short-listing the seven best names.

In response to our request, Mr Suthan said the task assigned to him was daunting since a proper and suitable name for the Kochi Metro should be metropolitan in character while retaining the local flavour.

“Thus all names with Kochi in them will have to go. Therefore, I’ve looked at those names that are modern/urban and which have a Kerala/Malayalam touch,” he said.

Besides short-listing the names, Mr Suthan also came up with a name of his own for Kochi Metro to give it a professional touch. “The trick to do this is to develop a name and keep it in hand, or give them examples — with one of them being a favourite of the client.”

If left to him, he would’ve gone for something shorter, something stickier with an idea inside it, Mr Suthan said. Hence, he came up with the name Metro-Max. “It’s like petromax – something that’s popular, familiar and useful and very Malayalee. It stands for radiance, the brighter side of Kerala or The Light of Kerala”, he said.

Mr Suthan, known in Indian advertising industry circles as Pat, is the founder and chief explorer of The Advisory — a brand consultancy and creative boutique based out of New Delhi. He’s also the chief creative officer of iYogi.

He has worked on two highly talked about advertising campaigns – India Shining (NDA government’s campaign) and Incredible India (Indian tourism campaign).

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/it’s-your-metro-it’s-your-name-671

Ente Metro/Nammude Metro/Swandum Metro both are copies from Bengaluru, hence not good. I would say ഞങ്ങട മെട്രോ in west Kochi accent if we go that route.

Metro Yatra is the only one that is remotely acceptable. I laugh in the general direction of "MetroMax"

I think nothing yet beats Kochi Metro

Of course, there will be calls for the ubiquitous Rajiv Gandhi Metro, K. Karunakaran Metro etc. ;)

In the next couple of months, a commando force on the lines of National Security Guards (NSG) will be ready in Kerala to undertake anti-terrorist and insurgency operations.

The state government has decided to strengthen the commando force based on a directive of the Centre after the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack. The training for the force has been on for the last nine months aiming at familiarizing them with the topography of the state.

Currently, the 160-member commando wing is undergoing extensive jungle warfare training at Nilambur forest range. "The training programme includes weapon handling and acrobaticsssss," said Uma Meena, the commandant of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and in charge of the training programme.

She said that the training would be completed in another couple of months and the force would be ready to take up combat missions.

The force has undergone training in hostage rescue, evacuation, explosive identification and disposal and ambush operations. They will also be given special training in Krav Maga, the martial combat of Israeli army.

Experienced officials from NSG and Grey Hounds of Andhra Pradesh will provide training to the commandos. They will also have snipers, divers, IT and communication experts.

According to official sources, the force will have refreshment training once in every three months. Three base stations for the team are expected to come up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. "Specially designed vehicles equipped with latest communication devices, gadgets and arms will be sourced for commando operations. A group of commandos will be in charge to meet emergency situations," the officials added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Commandos-preparing-for-missions-in-Kerala/articleshow/10613108.cms

Ente Metro/Nammude Metro/Swandum Metro both are copies from Bengaluru, hence not good. I would say ഞങ്ങട മെട്രോ in west Kochi accent if we go that route.

Metro Yatra is the only one that is remotely acceptable. I laugh in the general direction of "MetroMax"

I think nothing yet beats Kochi Metro

Of course, there will be calls for the ubiquitous Rajiv Gandhi Metro, K. Karunakaran Metro etc. ;)

Howz the trimmed version of your own Location given in SSC:
"GOD'S OWN METRO,KOCHI"

what about "sakthan metro" commemorating cochin kingdom's ruler. :P

what about "sakthan metro" commemorating cochin kingdom's ruler. :P

In Olden some Malayalam nicknames would be generated for a new thing, which could be branded in modern sense. For example, instead of KSRTC, the term Anavandi (Elephant Vehicle) would be effectively branded and gives an unique feel. However in recent days, no-one makes such nicknames for any things hence very difficult to effectively brand. For example, we could easily call JnNURM buses as Orange buses, unique to its livery. But rather most of them prefer to call A/C Volvo etc.....

A small insight, since most New York's Metro are within underground, it was called Subway and branded effectively. London calls its metro as tube as being novel of running a train in a tube-like tunnel...

Thinking all these in future a nickname for Kochi Metro may be ideal, rather naming after Kings or Politicians or unfruitful names like Metromax (it remains me hair oil brand- HairOmax).....

If we follow London, we should name തൂണേല്* as it runs on track over pillars :)

If we follow London, we should name തൂണേല്* as it runs on track over pillars :)

:lol:

If it was Kozhikode..it would have been easy!

ഞമ്മളെ മെട്രോ!!:cheers:

Three years after its inception, National Investigation Agency is all set to expand its wings by opening three new offices and increasing the organisation strength from existing 400 to nearly 900.

The NIA was set up in the aftermath of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks following an act passed by the Parliament and is entrusted with cases related to terror.

The government has decided to create nearly 500 more posts raising the strength of the counter-terror agency to 900 besides opening offices in Lucknow, Kochi and Mumbai, officials said, adding that the home ministry proposal received a cabinet nod recently.

The process to recruit new personnel -- both direct recruit as well as on deputations -- will be started soon.

"We got the sanction for new posts. We have also received approval for opening three new offices in Lucknow, Kochi and Mumbai," a senior official said.

The need for opening up of offices in the three cities was felt as Uttar Pradesh is being used by terrorists to infiltrate from Nepal. The state's porous border with Nepal is also being used for smuggling fake Indian currency notes into the country.

Mumbai, being a commercial capital of the country, has been often made terror target while Kerala is being used by some terror groups as a recruitment ground for over ground workers who carried of reconnaissance and also indulged in hawala rackets.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-to-hire-nearly-500-people-in-NIA-to-open-3-new-offices/articleshow/10628126.cms

If it was Kozhikode..it would have been easy!

ഞമ്മളെ മെട്രോ!!:cheers:

You can use it in! ഞമ്മളെ മോണോ! (മേണോ) :lol:

An interesting fact about Kochi

Kochi city is the only Indian city (May be in the world) where its corporation boundary area not consider as a suburb or UA in officially...

An interesting fact about Kochi

Kochi city is the only Indian city (May be in the world) where its corporation boundary area not consider as a suburb or UA in officially...

I didn't understand what you said Biju? Who is not considering it? In my knowledge, every agency of Govt of India and Kerala takes decision based on U/A, not old 1962 corporation limits.....

I didn't understand what you said Biju? Who is not considering it? In my knowledge, every agency of Govt of India and Kerala takes decision based on U/A, not old 1962 corporation limits.....

I mean Aroor, its just 100 meters away from Corporation Limits. But please note my point Corporation boundary, not UA boundary. I know its because of Aroor belongs to another district. But just share my thoughts.

I mean Aroor, its just 100 meters away from Corporation Limits. But please note my point Corporation boundary, not UA boundary. I know its because of Aroor belongs to another district. But just share my thoughts.

Thats a tricky question which Census Authority of India faced in many metros. Say in New Delhi, we all know Guragoan is part and parcel of NCR region and almost a suburb to the city. Yet its not classified as Delhi U/A. Many other areas like Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad etc which all are established Suburbs are not recordically marked as same by Census authority citing being in other state.

In Mumbai, Thane is not included in Mumbai area, being a different district.... This is common everywhere.

Half of Cherthala U/A id directly dependent on Kochi and part of Kochi U/A economically as well as socially. So it makes no much difference. With lots of land available in Aroor-Thuravoor side, I see a mega boom over there in next couple of years.

^^
Dear MI, note my point Corporation boundary. The above cities entire corporation boundaries are already under UA or suburb category. Their problems related to extension of UA. But this is not the case here.

In Mumbai, Thane is not included in Mumbai area, being a different district.... This is common everywhere.

In Mumbai, Thane Corporation , Navi Mumbai Corporation and Kalyan -dombivli corporation are included in UA, though they belong to Thane district.

Mumbai corporation itself is spread into two districts , Mumbai City & Mumbai suburban.

for more info, urban agglomorations spread over more than one district refer below link:
http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/UAs%20spreading%20over%20more%20than%20one%20districts.pdf

When we refer above, and refer UA's definition from census india webside, it makes sense that Cochin UA & Cherthala UA may be combined as single UA coz, it is continous urban stretch.

Delhi's case is different. coz it is spread into two different states.

A change in pricing mechanism of LNG (liquefied natural gas) in the country could improve the competitiveness of industries in Kerala, which are going to depend on natural gas as fuel or feedstock, said E Nandakumar, executive director of BPCL Kochi Refinery. He was delivering the inaugural address at a seminar on LNG-based industries conducted by the Institution of Engineers, Kochi centre.

Kochi LNG Terminal will be sourcing LNG through long-term contracts with RasGas in Qatar and from Exxon Mobil's Gorgon venture in Australia - the price of gas from these contracts would be $15 per mmbtu (Million Metric British Thermal Units), which will be significantly higher than the $4 per mmbtu price offered by terminals in northern and western parts of India.

"Kerala state has to lobby for 'pooled' pricing of LNG to bring down the price of natural gas from $15, the rate at which Kochi LNG terminal is going to source gas," Nandakumar said. "If we take the case of NTPC's Kayamkulam project, it will be forced to buy natural gas at the rate of $15, while its counterparts in Delhi could get it for $4, and this would enable the plants in Delhi to offer electricity at a lower rate of Rs 4 per unit, whereas Kayamkulam's pricing would be at a higher rate of Rs 6-7 per unit.

"The Gujarat government has set up an extensive network of natural gas supply in its state and is offering gas to the industries at the rate of $2-3 per mmbtu," Nandakumar said. The introduction of averaging of the costlier LNG with the cheaper domestic natural gas would inflate the existing price in states like Gujarat and hence Kerala's demand for pooling will run into strong opposition, Nandakumar added.

"The non-availability of natural gas is one of the major factors affecting the viability of fertiliser operations in southern parts of India - in particular, Kerala and Tamil Nadu," observed K Jayachandran, deputy chief engineer of Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT). "Dependence on high cost liquid fuels and un-remunerative price concession schemes are adversely affecting the economics of operation and working capital requirements of these plants", he revealed. FACT could save Rs 415 crore annually by switching from naphtha to LNG, said Dr MP Sukumaran Nair, director of Center for Green Technology and Management.

"To switch from naphtha to natural gas, industries in Kerala have to modify their existing equipment, and Kochi Refinery is spending Rs 60 crore on modification. Similarly, NTPC may have to modify its burner at Kayamkulam power station," Nandakumar observed.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Pooling-of-LNG-price-could-boost-competitiveness-of-Kerala-based-industries/articleshow/10681467.cms

Cochin

This lovely seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.

Its proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate.

Landmarks on Cochin include Fort Kochi beach, Hill Palace Museum, St. Francis Church, Museum of Kerala History and Art Gallery, Thrikkakara Temple, Jain Mandir, Malayattoor Mount, Kanjiramattam Mosque, Cherai Beach, and Kodanadu Elephant Training College.

Click on NEXT for more...


http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-indias-13-most-popular-tourist-destinations/20111110.htm

‘Natural gas key to development of the State'
Speakers at a national seminar here on LNG-based industries described natural gas as the cornerstone of Kerala's future economic development and called for resolution of issues such as tying up of supplies and pricing at the earliest.

The seminar was organised on Thursday by the Institution of Engineers (India), Kochi chapter.

COMMISSIONING

Executive Director of the BPCL-Kochi Refinery E. Nandakumar, who was the chief guest at the inauguration of the seminar, said the LNG project was conceived in 1991-92 and at one time it was thought that Kochi was ahead of Dahej, where a 10-million-tonne a year LNG terminal was now commissioned. Kochi terminal was due for commissioning in the middle of 2012.

He called for resolution of issues such as pricing at the earliest so that Kerala could take advantage of the relatively clean energy source for its development.

Mr. Nandakumar said Kerala could not just survive on service industry and needed to go in for manufacturing. No other fuel was suited to the State's plans for the future than natural gas.

INVESTMENTS

He pointed out that the BPCL-Kochi Refinery planned investments to the tune of Rs. 20,000 crore in the near future and this would involve between 20 and 30 ancillary units, which would need LNG as its source of power supply and feedstock.

M.P. Sukumaran Nair, former Special Secretary to the Chief Minister of Kerala, said in his presentation on natural gas and industrial development of Kerala that enterprises such as Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore could save up to Rs.415 crore a year on switching feedstock from naphtha to natural gas.

PIPELINES

He called for the fast completion of supply pipelines; assurance of LNG supplies to Kochi; setting up of a power plant close to the LNG terminal; and expansion of the capacity of the terminal here.

Deputy Chief Engineer of FACT K. Jayachandran emphasised the importance of natural gas for the fertilizer industry.

He made a presentation on the prospects and concerns of the fertilizer industry vis-à-vis the supply of natural gas.

VARIOUS ASPECTS

The two-day seminar deals with various aspects of LNG, including safety and its environment friendliness.

The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/article2624171.ece)

It seems our collector is having a big head with bubbling ideas and dreams of making an Innovative Kochi..... After proposing projects like Skywalk, Children's Theatre, Island Tourist Heritage Ships, Onam Theme Park and Museum, Durbar Hall Drive In Theatre etc, another new concept is here for us!!!!:cheers:

Hats off to our collector Sheik Pareeth for constantly working for putting up innovative ideas into practice and keeping us pride....We are extremely proud to have a collector like him here....

The district administration will soon set up a ‘Manveedu’, a house made of mud, inside the compound of civil station. The idea is to bring back the traditional style of house building into the limelight. The mud house will be built in an area of 355 square feet and will be located close to the northern gate of the civil station.

District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth told that the such buildings are cost effective as well as eco-friendly. “It is an inexpensive enterprise. It would cost about Rs 750 for every square feet, whereas, other homes would cost around Rs 1500-1700 per square feet. Hence, this is an attempt to show that such mud houses are very effective,” he said. Pareeth also said that this house can be built with a minimal amount of Rs 3 lakh. This house is designed keeping all the facilities in mind. “It will have corridors, two counters, public restrooms and other facilities,” he said.

Sheik Pareeth also said that once the work of this mud house is completed, the Akshaya Centre as well as the railway counter at the civil station will be shifted here. “Owing to the security reasons, the railway counter here is operating only until evening. Once the work is completed the railway counter will function till 8.30 pm,” collector said.

Pareeth said that measures are on to complete the work of mud house by the end of this month. “We are making every attempt to complete the work in a time-bound manner and are also planning to inaugurate the mud house by Jan 1, 2012,” he said. This mud house is designed by Joshi Cherian.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/manveedu-to-make-a-comeback-at-civil-station/202102-60-122.html

^^

Adding to the Collector, We have got few smart ministers including our CM. :cheers:

25 International CEO's will visit Kerala

Emerging Kerala to be held in September

25 CEO's across the world who will be taking part in World Economic Forum in New Delhi next year will visit Kerala. This was informed by CM after helding discussions with the organizers.

The "Emerging Kerala" event will be more grand than its predecessor "GIM" and leading industrialists will attend the event. Many of them have expressed their interest in investing in Kerala, said Oommen Chandy.

Mathrubhumi (http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperstory_33455-34658171-11/15/2011-.aspx)

From Projects thread!

There can be no better choice than Sreedharan for Kochi Metro ...
Hope he takes charge of Metro.....

why the approval is getting delayed , its frustrating .......

True, Sreedharan on the chair, we can be more sure of project moving!

The new techonology will cut down on the construction time and cost! A reason for our politicians to delay it further :lol:

2 weeks! I cnt wait more than that :)

If this technology considerably reduces (25% they say) on costs and is more sophisticated, why its not practiced in India!! :nuts:

‘Kerala pushing four mega infrastructure projects'
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/00838/infra-kerala_838296f.jpg
The State Government has taken up on itself the challenge of pushing four major projects simultaneously on the infrastructure front, according to the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy.

He said this delivering the inaugural address at the three-day Infrastructure Conference-2011 hosted by the Public Works Department here on Wednesday.

Infrastructure is one aspect that has been holding the State back badly on the development front, he said.

FOUR PROJECTS

The four projects are the monorail projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, the north-to-south High-Speed Rail Corridor and the Kochi Metro.

Along with this, doubling and electrification of Railway tracks is also being taken up expeditiously, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister requested the gathering of engineers, domain experts and industry practitioners to share their thoughts and knowledge for being incorporated into the related policy draft.

Fully developed roads are a must for economic progress, and its multiplier effect can have rub-off impact on future investments and employment prospects, among others. Despite the tight finances, the Government has made available four times as much amount for road construction and maintenance as was originally provided for in the State Budget.

INFRA LAGGING

While observing that the public sector has managed to attract enough and more attention from planners and the executive, the Chief Minister said infrastructure has lagged far behind.

“It would not be enough to merely catch up, but we would have to run ahead of time by a huge margin if we are to keep up with the rest of the world,” Mr Chandy observed.

The State is caught in a time wrap, as would be clear from the developmental freeze obtaining here, as against the progressive changes in the economic environment and attendant progress in other States.

For instance, the State has not been able to utilise even five per cent of the potential in inland water transport despite being home to 44 rivers and an expansive network of lakes and lagoons.

ROADS FIRST

But roads have to be developed first and foremost. There are big challenges, least of which is land acquisition.

“The increasing opposition to land acquisition and related unrest is our own making since in the past compensation has not been made available in adequate amounts and in a time-bound manner to the affected people,” the Chief Minister said.

A solution for this is needed here and now, he added.

Quality of road construction is another major issue. Time-bound execution and delivery of assured quality is of paramount importance.

“Stick to target,” the Chief Minister reminded planners and engineers.

The Hindu Businessline (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article2633181.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

:cheers: Hope, everything works out! We need a Brand new Kerala :)

From the Discussion Paper for Stakeholder Consultation on Potential Reform of the SEZ Policy Source :http://sezindia.gov.in/writereaddata/updates/SEZ_REVIEW.pdf

SEZ exports from Kerala better than Andhra and close to Maharashtra , almost half of SEZ export revenues are from Gujarat. Lots of other data and proposals are discussed in the document.


Distribution of SEZ Exports across States (for FY 2010-11)
Sl. No. State Exports (Crores Rs.)
1 Gujarat 146877.73
2 Karnataka 46717.99
3 Tamil Nadu 43704.60
4 Maharashtra 19480.05
5 Kerala 18750.65
6 Andhra Pradesh 13359.17
7 Uttar Pradesh 10703.17
8 West Bengal 10883.57
9 Haryana 2807.01
10 Madhya Pradesh 1242.65
11 Rajasthan 899.39
12 Chandigarh 318.00
13 Orissa 123.87
TOTAL 315867.85

From the Discussion Paper for Stakeholder Consultation on Potential Reform of the SEZ Policy Source :http://sezindia.gov.in/writereaddata/updates/SEZ_REVIEW.pdf

SEZ exports from Kerala better than Andhra and close to Maharashtra , almost half of SEZ export revenues are from Gujarat. Lots of other data and proposals are discussed in the document.

CSEZ stands 4th in the country among SEZ. That adds the big value!

Big Projects that has started rolling - Review

1) Kochi Metro - Infra - Rs 5,200Cr
2) Kochi Oceanarium - Tourism - Rs 450 Cr
3) Kochi Smart City - IT/ITES, Banking, Education - Rs 2,000Cr
4) Electronic Hardware Park - Electronics hardware Manufacturing - Rs 7,000 Cr
5) Infopark Phase -II - IT/ITES - Rs 2,500Cr
6) Goshree Developments - Infra, Tourism - Rs 300Cr
7) Nest Electronics City - Electronics hardware Manufacturing - Rs 2500 Cr
8) LNG Terminal Phase II - Port related - Rs 4,200Cr(Phase 1+2)
9) BPCL Refinery Phase III - Petrochemical Complex - Rs 12,500Cr
10) GAIL Pipeline - Gas distribution - Rs 3,700Cr
11) Cochin City Road Improvement - Infra - Rs 158Cr
12) Aster Med-City - Healthcare - Rs 1,500Cr
13) Rajagiri Healthcare & Educational Project - Rs 1,000Cr
14) Muziris Heritage Project Phase I - Tourism & Archaeology - Rs 140Cr
15) FACT Projects (invited) - Industrial - Rs 5,700Cr
16) Mobility Hub - Transport Infra - Rs 300Cr

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Big Projects that has started rolling - Review

1) Kochi Metro - Infra - Rs 5,200Cr
2) Kochi Oceanarium - Tourism - Rs 450 Cr
3) Kochi Smart City - IT/ITES, Banking, Education - Rs 2,000Cr
4) Electronic Hardware Park - Electronics hardware Manufacturing - Rs 7,000 Cr
5) Infopark Phase -II - IT/ITES - Rs 2,500Cr
6) Goshree Developments - Infra, Tourism - Rs 300Cr
7) Nest Electronics City - Electronics hardware Manufacturing - Rs 2500 Cr
8) LNG Terminal Phase II - Port related - Rs 4,200Cr(Phase 1+2)
9) BPCL Refinery Phase III - Petrochemical Complex - Rs 12,500Cr
10) GAIL Pipeline - Gas distribution - Rs 3,700Cr
11) Cochin City Road Improvement - Infra - Rs 158Cr
12) Aster Med-City - Healthcare - Rs 1,500Cr
13) Rajagiri Healthcare & Educational Project - Rs 1,000Cr
14) Muziris Heritage Project Phase I - Tourism & Archaeology - Rs 140Cr
15) FACT Projects (invited) - Industrial - Rs 5,700Cr
16) Mobility Hub - Transport Infra - Rs 300Cr

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Well there are reports that Govt clearing bottlenecks for Sobha Hi-tech City, as recently an environmentalists group raised the same issue in a press meet.

If true, ignoring the environmental issues (ofcourse personally I have some pains to see that), Sobha Hitech city might also will be added to the list soon....

And need to wait and see which all cities are going to be added in this list soon, after Emerging Kerala

Big Projects that has started rolling - Review

1) Kochi Metro - Infra - Rs 5,200Cr
2) Kochi Oceanarium - Tourism - Rs 450 Cr
3) Kochi Smart City - IT/ITES, Banking, Education - Rs 2,000Cr
4) Electronic Hardware Park - Electronics hardware Manufacturing - Rs 7,000 Cr
5) Infopark Phase -II - IT/ITES - Rs 2,500Cr
6) Goshree Developments - Infra, Tourism - Rs 300Cr
7) Nest Electronics City - Electronics hardware Manufacturing - Rs 2500 Cr
8) LNG Terminal Phase II - Port related - Rs 4,200Cr(Phase 1+2)
9) BPCL Refinery Phase III - Petrochemical Complex - Rs 12,500Cr
10) GAIL Pipeline - Gas distribution - Rs 3,700Cr
11) Cochin City Road Improvement - Infra - Rs 158Cr
12) Aster Med-City - Healthcare - Rs 1,500Cr
13) Rajagiri Healthcare & Educational Project - Rs 1,000Cr
14) Muziris Heritage Project Phase I - Tourism & Archaeology - Rs 140Cr
15) FACT Projects (invited) - Industrial - Rs 5,700Cr
16) Mobility Hub - Transport Infra - Rs 300Cr

:banana: :banana: :banana:

This has lot to do with UDF ,OC and Collector . Even ppl like Tom Jose and Dr Beena are doing great things for the city.

Hopefully we ll have some really good road infrastructure projects also shaping up soon.

GDP of the district in 2016 will be unbelievble. :banana:

KOCHI AMONG 200 FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN WORLD

The other Indian cities that figure in the global ranking between 101 and 300 include Mumbai (108th), Nagpur (114th), Hyderabad (115th), Jabalpur (121st), Visakhapatnam (122nd), Allahabad (130th), Vijayawada (159th), Kochi (164th), Kolkata (167th), Varanasi (174th), Chennai (175th) and Madurai (234th).

Kochi is the only city from Kerala.

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011/Nov/18/srinagar-among-100-fastest-growing-cities-in-world-37.asp

The Mayor dreams of designer roads, development summit, transport authority and stuff goes on and on..... But it takes more than 3 months for him to just replace the name board of Cochin Corporation.... Call it the height of red tapism in our system.... That too, despite of daily theris in Radio Mango....

7fL1uPS6hus

‘Breathing’ space for a choking city


KOCHI: If the issues pertaining to environment pollution do not receive timely attention, Kochiites will be gasping for oxygen within a few years. An unforeseen yet inevitable disaster that is facing Kochi today is anoxia, a situation wherein the amount of oxygen in the air depletes rapidly. To maintain stable oxygen level in the air, the city needs good cross ventilation. This has been made impossible by the skyscrapers on the shores of backwaters as they block the sea breeze to a large extent. Moreover, the huge amounts of waste being dumped in water bodies is threatening the aquatic plant life. Though we do not realise it, aquatic plants play a vital role in maintaining the required oxygen levels. A special committee comprising environmentalists and policy makers should be formed to look into the matter.

Tree protection is another important yet neglected issue in Kochi. Timely conservation of trees is the duty of the corporation. Cutting of trees in the name of preventing electricity loss from overhead wires should be stopped. Instead, the particular parts of the wire which comes into contact with the tree should be insulated. Provision should be made to punish those who cut roadside trees.

An Environment Development Committee, including scientists and experts from various areas like water conservation, river protection and tree protection, must be formed to look into these issues. The committee should meet every week to asses the situation, propose suitable remedies and make sure that they are implemented.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/%E2%80%98Breathing%E2%80%99-space-for-a-choking-city/335267.html

MULLAPERIYAR A "WATERBOMB" IN MAKING

THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AFFECTING NOT ONLY KOCHI BUT THE WHOLE KERALA.WE ARE DREAMING ABOUT VISION KOCHI 2020 WITH METRO RAIL,LNG TERMINAL ,OCEANARIUM,HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR,SMART CITY AND A LOT OTHERS.FOR ALL THIS TO HAPPEN KOCHI SHOULD BE THERE AND WHOLE KERALA SHOULD BE THERE!!!!
BE ALERT!!!!
http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/22112011/22112011-md-ek-4/3958421.JPG

People still doesn't know that their lives are in peril!!

High time some action been taken. Well, it take years to build a new one. How do you bet on the current one that long. An earthquake of high magnitude is more than enough!

Fear has gripped over 150,000 people living downstream of the age-old Mullaperiyar dam as experts have predicted more tremors with an epicentre very close to the leaking reservoir in the southern state of Kerala.

A total of 22 tremors, all within a span of eight months, have been reported from the area, the latest being the one on Friday.

John Mathai, a senior scientist with the Centre for Earth Science Studies, told Oman Tribune that studies have indicated that even a mild tremor within a radius of 16km upstream of the masonry dam will create gravity acceleration and the dam will not be able to withstand it.

The dam was constructed in 1895 by the British. It is built with stone and surki, a mixture of sugar and calcium oxide.

Read it here (http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?page=news&id=105882&heading=India)

What this Govt is thinking? Are they going on a announcement spree on developement projects in the city because they believe they need to materialize none.Shame that govt hid this for 5 months.To save whom?:ohno:
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/online/story.php?id=1292912

we do not have even a day to spare , its already high time to act.. but still our so called leaders are just discussing, studying, thinking...

At least as a precautionary measure , why can't they get the water level reduced to the bare minimum level..

^^Most of our minister's are chantupottu..Dont have the gutz the fight fire with fire.

Just imagine !!!. We cant even reduce the water level. WT*

^^Most of our minister's are chantupottu..Dont have the gutz the fight fire with fire.

Just imagine !!!. We cant even reduce the water level. WT*

Well Arunbhai.... I don't find any issue with our Politicians (Left or Right) in raising the issue and bringing it to national level. Both have done a remarkable job and kept the momentum intact.

Well, as a highly literate state, we have shown the best way, by avoiding an emotional flare-up. Even on this days, we haven't turned this issue as Malayalee Vs Tamil.... Rather purely a state level dispute. And our approach itself is very rational. We demand only safety, not water. Neither we have threathen TN with blocking water supply nor boycott of TN Goods etc.... Even today we have kept the respects of our neighbour and its culture in high esteem.

Thats not the case from other side... They have flared up emotional grounds, and even made this as a plot against Tamil Race and all regular blab-blabbers..... As a result they are fastly losing their ground or solid rational.

In TN-Karnataka tussle over Kaveri waters, both the states played emotional flare-up. We have seen Tamil Movies getting banned in Karnataka and vice versa, bus services getting interrupted, supplies getting blocked, film celebrities from both side going into hunger strikes making lot of emotional flareup against others and things like that.... Kerala has avoided such cheap mockups, rather doing with careful planning, well crafted arguements, strong rational grounds etc.... As a result, any neutral party feels justified with Kerala.

Why should then we blame our politicians for not flaring up Emotional grounds? We will lose much of our ground, if emotions are raised up..... In this hour of crisis, we must stand along with our leadership and raise an unified voice that we Malayalees want safety......

Remember, if this dam breaks, 3 Million Malayalees will die at a single swift/stroke.... But more than 10 million Tamilians will have to undergo a slow death due to terrible drought and farm loss, which would be much more worse than our death. We have made a system in Kerala that, even without Kochi or Kottayam, Kerala could survive.... But without Southern Part, almost entire TN would dry up its supplies and end up in much more bigger disaster than Mullaperiyar....

Its time we must make them understand the rational grounds, not just arguing/cross arguing based on emotions.....

^^ I agree MI. I m getting really emotional here ..Cant imagine this at all.

3 districts will be completely washed away...But all others will be also be affected heavily :bash:

people living close to the dam are the only one who are knowing the risks. most of the people don't have an idea how much Mullaperiyar dam poses a threat to their lives. there is no organized protests.

we don't block highways, our politicians don't speak hatred, our people don't see this as a attack from tamil nation(alists) against existence of our state, which is part of Indian union under treaties signed. lot of hatred and we have not reacted like Karnataka did. too cool. but, that is the way. we don't have "seeman's","vaikos".

we are really very tolerant people in whole of the world who waits permission from others for dismantling of this ancient dam which is nothing but a Sword of Damocles hanging above Kerala.

^^

We are educated! :cheers:

^^

Sorry we aren't ;)

http://i44.tinypic.com/11kdy0j.jpg

Remember, if this dam breaks, 3 Million Malayalees will die at a single swift/stroke.... But more than 10 million Tamilians will have to undergo a slow death due to terrible drought and farm loss, which would be much more worse than our death. We have made a system in Kerala that, even without Kochi or Kottayam, Kerala could survive.... But without Southern Part, almost entire TN would dry up its supplies and end up in much more bigger disaster than Mullaperiyar....

@MI are you sure about this? The only truth in what you have written is the first part of it that 3 Million + Keralites would be washed away instantly. If something like this happens, TN will have the time,money and has the power to prevent the second thing that you have mentioned. Time, that is one thing that we dont have

@MI are you sure about this? The only truth in what you have written is the first part of it that 3 Million + Keralites would be washed away instantly. If something like this happens, TN will have the time,money and has the power to prevent the second thing that you have mentioned. Time, that is one thing that we dont have

Request everyone to join this facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/groups/savemullaperiayardam/

MULLAPERIYAR A "WATERBOMB" IN MAKING-page 2

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/23112011/23112011-md-ek-4/3521119.JPG

^^

Sorry we aren't ;)

http://i44.tinypic.com/11kdy0j.jpg
Many people pronounce that place as palarivattom than "paalaarivattom".
same issue with "muvattupuzha vs m"ooo"vattupuzha"...

Kochi Corporation gets tough on plastic bags


KOCHI: In the wake of the Kerala High Court order on waste dumping, the Kochi Corporation is planning to put a blanket ban on plastic carry bags.
Wh
ile initiating steps to implement the directions as per the court order, the Kochi Corporation will also consider the viability of a total ban on plastic bags, said TK Ashraf, chairman, Health Standing Committee.

“The council has already decided to ban plastic carry bags weighing below 60 microns,” Ashraf said. “Now, we are thinking of a total ban irrespective of the measurements.

”On implementing the court order, Ashraf said the distribution of buckets would be made effective.

“Buckets to collect segregated waste have already been distributed to all houses. If more buckets are to be distributed to new areas, the councillors will do it,” he said.

The High Court had banned the dumping of solid waste in plastic carry bags or in non-biodegradable materials on road sides and public places, directing the police to take strict action.

Meanwhile, Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council (EDRAAC) president P Rangadasaprabhu said their opinion was that the waste should be treated at the place where it is generated. He called upon the civic body to enforce the regulations strictly.

“If the civic body is planning to ban plastic bags, the decision should be enforced strictly. Though a ban was introduced earlier, the corporation could not enforce it,” Prabhu said.

“The authorities should come up with measures to bring down the use of plastic bags. The state government can initiate steps to limit the use of plastic at outlets operated by the Civil Supplies Corporation. The Kochi Corporation should promote bio-gas plants and provide assistance by way of subsidy. Though we had approached the corporation with the demand, there was only a cold response,” he said.

PG Anil Kumar, secretary, TD West Citizen Forum, said: “The city lacks a proper solid waste management system. Ours is one of the residents associations which segregates 100 per cent of waste generated in our area. Though we do not know where the waste is dumped, we promise that garbage is taken away from the city.

"He pointed out that 65 per cent of waste generated in the city is segregated and removed.

The High Court has further directed the police to investigate and prosecute the accused under Section 268 (public nuisance), read with Section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and Section 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health) of the IPC, along with various provisions of the municipal laws.

Currently, a corporation delegation, including Mayor Tony Chammany, councillors and standing committee chairmen, is in New Delhi to discuss various developmental projects.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/kochi-corporation-gets-tough-on-plastic-bags/336047.html

BEWARE

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/306378_195305513883841_100002131807855_432792_100482461_n.jpg

MULLAPERIYAR A "WATERBOMB" IN MAKING-page 3

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/24112011/24112011-md-ek-4/113633328.JPG

Needed a better disaster management system


KOCHI: Fear is riding high in Kochi as the disaster management system in the commercial hub of Kerala is in absolute doldrums. Against the backdrop of the major fire that broke out at Aryasala in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, the question is how equipped our disaster management wing, including the fire and safety services, is?

A highly placed official with the Fire and Rescue Services Department says their system is ill-equipped and lacks state-of-the-art facilities across the state. Citing an instance, he said that the fire at Aryasala was doused not just because of the fire department but with the help of a fire wing from the Airports Authority of India.

As far as Kochi is concerned, the department lacks the facilities required to handle emergencies, said fire officials with the Thrikkakara Fire Station.
“Whenever a major fire breaks out in Kochi, the services of the fire tenders from the BPCL and the Cochin Shipyard are sought,” they said.

Kochi has many strategic locations like the Vallarpadam Container Terminal, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Cochin Port Trust.

Besides, there are a lot of oil companies operating in the city and the oil which has to be supplied to these oil companies are stored in tanks situated in the lake. To make matters worse, it is kept in close proximity to the city. Fire officials say they lack amenities to prevent the outbreak of oil fire. “A kind of foam is used to extinguish such fires. But the majority of the fire stations in Kochi do not have it. If any disaster happens in this area, it could wipe out a larger portion of the district,” they said. The department also lacks sky lifts, which can be used when a fire breaks out in high-rises. The city has been witnessing many fire accidents recently. But the number of casualties reported was small, as every time it was a close shave, they said.

When a tanker collided with a lorry carrying acid in Kundanoor, a disaster was avoided as the acid in the lorry did not spill over.

To add more trouble, the disaster management wing of Kochi is in limbo. The wing has a deputy collector and two clerks at its helm to coordinate the disaster management activities in the entire state.Though the disaster management wing authorities claim that they usually coordinate with the police and the fire department, fire officials refuted it.

When asked about the amenities provided for the department, disaster management wing Deputy Collector Indira Devi said they were providing facilities. But she was not able to throw more light on the activities of the department.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Needed-a-better-disaster-management-system/336385.html

Save Kochi from asthma attacks


KOCHI: Urbanisation has resulted in an astronomical increase in the health problems being faced by people. Dr S Sachidananda Kamath, former president of Indian Medical Association (Kochi), explains his vision of a ‘Green Kochi’ as a ‘Healthy Kochi,’ where each citizen contributes to the cause.

The city needs to breathe too and a green cover will serve as its lungs. But if the current environmental scenario continues in the city, Kochiites are in for a very unhealthy future.

Statistics reveal that there is a 10 per cent increase in the number of asthma patients in Kochi in the past 10 years. There is also an alarming trend of re-emergence of diseases which were hitherto considered to be wiped out. Studies show that the children who live in houses near heavily-used roads are more prone to get respiratory diseases like asthma. The number of patients suffering from various allergies is on the rise. In short, Kochi’s health has been declining rapidly in the past few years.

In order to combat the issue, the authorities concerned and the public have to work hand in hand. People must make sure that their house supports some greenery. Depending on the availability of space, every house should have at least a dozen potted plants or a minimum of two trees. This will help purify the air in and around the house.

A step that needs to be taken by the government is regarding the emission tests conducted on vehicles. Instead of making it a yearly process, pollution checks should be conducted once in two months so as to ensure reduced levels of vehicular pollution.

Another issue that needs immediate attention is that of proper sewage and waste management. It is due to the lack of these systems that there are frequent outbreaks of communicable diseases.

Public awareness in this regard is very important. Children should be taught the importance of environmental health right from school.

At the same time, the government should ensure that facilities should be provided for people to conduct their duties. Hence, the green initiative should be a combined effort of both the people and the government to move towards a healthy future for Kochi.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/save-kochi-from-asthma-attacks/336377.html

Kochi duo wins national debate championship
G. Adithya and Anjali Nair of Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir, Elamakkara, won the national debate competition organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in New Delhi. The duo won a trophy for the best team along with a cash award of Rs 10,000. Sixteen teams from eight regions were selected for the final round and the topic for the debate was, ‘In spite of the provisions of checks and balances in the Constitution, there is a strong need for the Lokpal Bill’.

Earlier this month, the Kochi duo had secured second position in the preliminary round in Chennai, which earned them a berth in the final. Anjali Nair, a plus one student, said that the competition was challenging. G. Adithya, a plus two student, was also adjudged best individual speaker and won a cash award of
Rs 5,000 along with a trophy. “All the teams were well-prepared and so it was a tough competition,” said Adithya. Principal Jaya Jacob praised the duo and said that it was their earnest efforts coupled with the wide exposure they got by participating in debate competitions that helped them win the national title.

Deccan Chronicle (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/kochi-duo-wins-national-debate-championship-765)

Transport of waste in uncovered lorries posing a hygiene risk

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00846/22kimpp02_Infopark__846476e.jpg
Health hazard: An uncovered lorry transporting waste in Kochi.

Lorries speeding along the Kakkanad-Infopark Road carrying waste to the solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram are posing a hygiene threat to Infopark.

Not less than 50 lorries a day traverse through the road en route to the waste plant.

Since the lorries are not properly covered, the waste gets thrown out of them along the way resulting in unbearable stench in the area. Besides, the lorries also leave behind a trail of nauseating waste water.

The sight is an eyesore for a place like Kakkanad which is fast becoming the IT nerve centre of the State. Though the waste is expected to be transported in fully-covered vehicles, the rule is more honoured in the breach.

Infopark authorities said that the careless practice could serve as a deterrent to prospective investors for whom hygiene is among the top priorities.

The road stretching between Edachira and Brahmapuram diesel plant also touches the proposed SmartCity Kochi and Kinfra and hence, a solution to the issue could hardly be over-emphasised, they said.

Infopark feels that taking up the issue with local authorities concerned is unlikely to make any difference.

However, authorities could at least take steps to ensure that the waste was being transported properly, eliminating the possibility of their unintended dumping along the way.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2658453.ece

Israeli technology for the Pampa, Vembanad

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00846/24kigkk01-israel_wa_846473e.jpg

The State government is planning to introduce Israeli technology to check the pollution of the Pampa river and Vembanad

Pampa river management will be taken up in the first phase followed by the implementation of pollution mitigation measures in Vembanad Lake.
In the second phase, the technology will be introduced for protection of the Meenachil and Manimala rivers.

Minister for Water Resources P. J. Joseph told The Hindu on Thursday that Israel was renowned for its water management technologies.

“I had the opportunity to hold preliminary-level talks with experts in Israel on the latest technology at the third international conference on water technologies, renewable energy, and environmental control held at Tel Aviv from November 15 to 17. We also held talks with an Indian company collaborating with Israel in this area. The second round of talks will be held soon,” he said.

Cutting edge

Explaining that the Israeli technology is very effective, the Minister said the country has developed cutting-edge technologies to maximise the utilisation of its water resources. This technology has been successfully used in the Yamuna river management programme. Stating that the protection of the Pampa will be given top priority, Mr. Joseph said the government will step up its efforts to transfer the technology required for cleaning up the river.

“We need state-of-the-art technology to evolve a sustainable method of protecting the water resource,” he said.

Referring to the protection of Vembanad Lake, the Minister said the Union government had already approved a Rs.10-crore assistance to initiate projects for checking the increasing pollution of the water body. The Centre is ready to extend a financial support to the tune of Rs.100 crore for protecting the lake, he said.

Mr. Joseph said the government would soon come up with conservation plans for the Meenachil and Manimala rivers.
The aim was to evolve an integrated management plan to save these rivers from a crisis.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2658441.ece

MULLAPERIYAR A "WATERBOMB" IN MAKING-page 4

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/25112011/25112011-md-ek-4/15156765.JPG

Fort Kochi beach: Bold but not beautiful


KOCHI: Heaps of coconut husk, dirt and plastic waste-the Fort Kochi beach could be anything but neat. Though the DTPC spends Rs 30,000 a month for keeping the beach and its environs clean, the beach stretch remains dirty most of the time.

As part of the clean destination campaign, the government had allotted Rs 1.64 crore for arranging cleaning works in various tourism destinations across Kerala for a period of 12 months from April 2010 to March 2011. According to locals, the ten green city Kudumbasree workers employed by the DTPC don’t clean the beach on a regular basis.

“The cleaning happens only once in a while. Only certain portions are litter-free and you will find heaps of waste while walking. There are many food courts and small vendors and if the bins are full they encourage tourists to dump plastic waste on the road,” says a native.

Though the Tourism Department is in charge of the cleaning, there is no proper and direct monitoring system there. “But no officer from the department has visited the place so far to monitor whether the cleaning is done the right way. Most of the tender coconut sellers leave the husk on the beach and it remains there for long,” he says.

According to the tourism officials, the Cochin Heritage Conservation Society is the monitoring authority. “The society has two supervisors to monitor the quality of cleaning there. They submit a regular report, but there has been instances where warning letters and circulars were issued as the work was not carried out properly,” says a tourism official. Other than Utsavam and World Tourism Day celebrations, the Tourism Department is not involved in any major tourism promotion programmes in Fort Kochi. Most of the tourism-related activities are taken care of by the Cochin Heritage Conservation Society. There is a total of 21 staff (DTPC and society) who are engaged in cleaning works. There are complaints regarding this and one reason for this is the fact that the corporation is not taking away the waste regularly.

Though the staff are cleaning from Vasco da Gama square to the Dutch Cemetery, the waste they collect is dumped near the square as there is no other way to dispose of the waste. There is no routine removal, may be they will do by the time of carnival,” says an official of the Cochin Heritage Conservation Society.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/fort-kochi-beach-bold-but-not-beautiful/336771.html

Kites to adorn Kochi’s skyline


KOCHI: The Kochi skyline will again be ruled by the kite flyers from across the globe. The third edition of the Kerala Kite Festival will be held from January 21 to 23. Along with Kochi, a part of the festival will be held at Vagamon as well. Kite making, flying competition and other exciting events will mark the festival, which has attracted many people during its previous editions.

The event is being organised by the Kite Life Foundation (KLF), an NGO promoted by a group of kite flyers, in association with the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and Kerala Tourism. “The competition will be open for all age groups irrespective of gender,” said Reema Nair, KLF council member.

“The competition will be based on three themes - the big kite, the best humanitarian message kite and the best innovative kite. Kite makers can use any material, which are either land filled products (recycled) or sourced from markets except plastic. “The winners will get prizes, certificates and membership in the Team Kerala Kite (Club) promoted by KLF,” Reema said.

“Team Kerala Kite has members from India and abroad. The KLF is invited to participate in many festivals in India and other countries. We also conduct workshops for students and offer new dimensions in kite making. The KLF uses kites for many cause related activities that include scholarships for the students,” Reema added.

The KLF is promising an action packed aerial extravaganza with spectacular flying displays, awesome kites, colourful ground-based inflatable and air sculptors of various shapes and sizes. A spectacular array of air creations, including original air sculptures and collection of larger-than-life air kites. The festival will be held from 11 am to 6 pm.

For details and to register, log on to www.kitelifefoundation.org (http://www.kitelifefoundation.org) or call on 9895455115/9847328146.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/kites-to-adorn-kochi%E2%80%99s-skyline/336780.html

Perhaps for those who are accustomed to seeing the aged old feuds and fights between Kochi and Trivandrum SSC members, it would be a shocking news that Trivandrum leads in support Kochi in both real and cyber world.....

More than 2 dozen activities are chalked out by Trivandrum youth and several organizations based in Trivandrum are working day and night ensuring that the cities/districts like Kochi, Alleppey, Idukki and Kottayam donot get wipped out from the face of the world, onset of Mullaperiyar dam breakage crisis....

A dozen of FB pages based in Trivandrum are working hard to start massive hunger strike and protest campaigns in the city.

If things work out well, the city of Trivandrum will see the largest indefinite hunger strike in the country with more than 200 youngsters volunteering so, to save their fellow brothers and sisters of Kerala:cheers:

Sarath Lal is leading the campaign in the city of Trivandrum.

Meanwhile nearly a dozen of UAE based Malayalee organizations are planning to start a slew of protests.... Indian Social Center in Abu Dhabi has discussed with Ambassador Lokesh in UAE capital Abu Dhabi and planning to present a memorandum to Indian President signed by center members. A series of seminars and awareness programs are planned in the center, which includes even support of Tamil members. An ambitious 1 lakh signature campaign is planned in Abu Dhabi to be presented before Prime Minister of India.

KMCC Dubai is also planning for massive fast and special namaaz spreading the awareness campaigns.

---------

Dear Trivandrum friends, Thanks for the big support in the hour of crisis.... We may have petty issues and feuds... But when bad omens looms over our skies, darkness spreads in our cities, it has been a light for us when you guys show us the light. Thank you very much.... We are indebted to you:cheers:

Perhaps for those who are accustomed to seeing the aged old feuds and fights between Kochi and Trivandrum SSC members, it would be a shocking news that Trivandrum leads in support Kochi in both real and cyber world.....

More than 2 dozen activities are chalked out by Trivandrum youth and several organizations based in Trivandrum are working day and night ensuring that the cities/districts like Kochi, Alleppey, Idukki and Kottayam donot get wipped out from the face of the world, onset of Mullaperiyar dam breakage crisis....

A dozen of FB pages based in Trivandrum are working hard to start massive hunger strike and protest campaigns in the city.

If things work out well, the city of Trivandrum will see the largest indefinite hunger strike in the country with more than 200 youngsters volunteering so, to save their fellow brothers and sisters of Kerala:cheers:

Sarath Lal is leading the campaign in the city of Trivandrum.

Meanwhile nearly a dozen of UAE based Malayalee organizations are planning to start a slew of protests.... Indian Social Center in Abu Dhabi has discussed with Ambassador Lokesh in UAE capital Abu Dhabi and planning to present a memorandum to Indian President signed by center members. A series of seminars and awareness programs are planned in the center, which includes even support of Tamil members. An ambitious 1 lakh signature campaign is planned in Abu Dhabi to be presented before Prime Minister of India.

KMCC Dubai is also planning for massive fast and special namaaz spreading the awareness campaigns.

---------

Dear Trivandrum friends, Thanks for the big support in the hour of crisis.... We may have petty issues and feuds... But when bad omens looms over our skies, darkness spreads in our cities, it has been a light for us when you guys show us the light. Thank you very much.... We are indebted to you:cheers:

Even I am also of the same opinion. One of my friends from TVM is the admin of Save Mullaperiyar Dam group in FB.

But, at the same time, I am equally worried that most of the Keralites are not aware of the severity of this issue. I asked 2-3 colleagues of mine and none of them were aware of it:ohno:. I had to educate them.

Even I am also of the same opinion. One of my friends from TVM is the admin of Save Mullaperiyar Dam group in FB.

But, at the same time, I am equally worried that most of the Keralites are not aware of the severity of this issue. I asked 2-3 colleagues of mine and none of them were aware of it:ohno:. I had to educate them.

Well, They are planning to start a painting campaign from Kowidar Palace to Raj Bhavan by erecting large continuous canvas on both sides of road with paintings to educate public. In addition, a bike rally is also planned to Mullaperiyar.

I never expected the campaign would be such big way.... Well, if the momentum is kept, this would emerge out almost like Arab Spring......

Yes, its really for the first time, such massive campaigns are out.... And surely its a silent revolution in making

Create buffer zone near Brahmapuram: court


A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Kochi Corporation to create a buffer zone of 100 ft width on the banks of Kadambrayar near Brahmapuram to abate the pollution caused from the solid waste treatment plant.

The Bench comprising Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice K. Vinod Chandran said that the contaminated water from the plant should be let into the river after treatment and ensuring purity of water as per the standard prescribed by the Pollution Control Board.

The court directed the corporation to take steps to remove waste from the river bank. The PCB had also been directed to inspect and recommend steps to solve the problems associated with the waste disposal.

The court allowed the Vadavukode-Puthekurizhu panchayat to engage an environment engineering expert from the Cochin University of Science and Technology or any other institute to study and make recommendations for clearing the waste and treating the river water.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2661677.ece

MULLAPERIYAR A "WATERBOMB" IN MAKING-page 5

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/26112011/26112011-md-ek-4/22431765.JPG

Evicted encroachers back at same places


Vendors who encroached on footpaths and roads are back at the same places, within a fortnight of the PWD removing them from the stretches maintained by the agency. Many of them block the whole width of the footpath and also the road shoulder. This forces pedestrians to walk through the tarred surface, risking being knocked down by vehicles. The encroachers sell anything from fruits and vegetables to clothes, flowers, footwear and pan masala.

While encroachments by vendors are easily noticeable, those by shops, commercial complexes and houses often go unnoticed. A PWD official confided that most roads in the city, including MG Road and the Broadway Market road are heavily encroached on by shops. “The encroachments are done mostly at night and on Sundays when not many people notice it. We launched a drive three weeks ago on the Palarivattom-Kakkanad Road, MG Road, Shanmugham Road, the stretch from the Government Guest House up to Rajendra Maidan and the Vytilla-Pettah Road, to remove vendors. But most of them have returned to their old spaces, choking public spaces.”

Political support is a major reason for vendors and shops encroaching on footpaths and roads. The uneven width of most roads in the city is primarily due to blatant encroachments that are often condoned off by civic agencies, the police and the Revenue Department. Traffic can be hastened in most roads if the encroachments are removed.

Despite rampant encroachments stifling the movement of pedestrians and vehicles, agencies that own and maintain roads seldom launch a full-fledged drive to evict them. “Since police personnel man most streets daily, they can easily remove all encroachments that hamper the movement of pedestrians and vehicles. The rule violators can easily be removed if civic agencies, Revenue officials and the police frequently evict them,” the PWD official said.

The police provide help for eviction drives whenever civic agencies hand over a list of encroachers, said the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Edapally Traffic) Baby Vinod. Though the police had removed vendors from Vytilla Junction, they have set up stalls on the service roads, blocking pedestrians and vehicles.

A Kochi Corporation official said that Kerala needs a regional vendor policy on the lines of the National Vendor Policy, so that vendors who obstruct public ways and cause nuisance to people can be removed. The absence of such a policy and political interference has resulted in vendors creating a free-for-all situation on the city's roads.

Even without a regional policy, the Health Wing of the Corporation is empowered to remove vendors and construction materials dumped on footpaths and roads, since they are a hazard for people's free movement and health, he said.

Though the Corporation has taken a video recording of encroachments into the MG Road, action has not been taken against the errant shop owners.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2664636.ece

Careers @ Kochi Metro (http://www.kochimetro.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=60)

Last date for application: 30-11-2011

Chandy: State will not deny water to Tamil Nadu


Reiterating Kerala's demand for a new dam at Mullaperiyar, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that the State will supply the same quantity of water being supplied at present to Tamil Nadu even after a new dam replaces the existing structure.

“There is no need for any doubt about our commitment to providing as much water as we supply to Tamil Nadu as of now from the Mullaperiyar reservoir,” he said at a “River Periyar Protection Convention” organised by the Paristhithi Samrakshana Sangham, an environmental NGO, here on Sunday.

Mr. Chandy, referring to a series of tremors in the catchment area of the Mullaperiyar reservoir on Saturday, said his government's policy was “water for Tamil Nadu, but safety for the people of Kerala.” He wondered why Tamil Nadu objected to Kerala building a new dam to replace the old one, which posed a threat to the lives of a large number of people in Kerala. This was despite the fact that Tamil Nadu was being assured of its quota of water from the reservoir.

Noting that Kerala cherished good relations with neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Mr. Chandy said he was confident that the dam issue could be resolved amicably. That was why the State had sought the Centre's involvement.

The Ministers P.J. Joseph and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan were set to leave for New Delhi on Monday to apprise the Central government of the urgency of constructing a new dam against the backdrop of the tremors.

Mr. Chandy asked people to show restraint on the issue and not to whip up passions.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2667000.ece

City needs a vertical limit

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2011/11/27/1-CITY.jpg

KOCHI: District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth has envisaged plans to turn Kochi into an ideal metro. Vertical expansion should be curbed. Drains, roads, sewerage, waterways and tourism should get the much-needed shoring up, he feels.

Satellite City

To curb vertical expansion, permits should be be given only to four to six-storey buildings, especially for residential ones. Office buildings can be given exemption but not beyond the limit of seven to eight floors. With this congestion, traffic chaos and the issues related to population concentration can be reduced. The city has no capacity for more vertical expansion. High rises should not be allowed above a certain limit in the 5-km periphery of the city.

The city should develop beyond its borders. Metro city should be extended to the airport and Smart City. Five hundred to 1,000 acres of land about half or 1 km off the city can be developed into a satellite townships on the likes of Noida. Self-sustained, it should have all facilities, including potable water, waste management, school, shopping and hospital. Good roads should link the area to the city. Areas in Kothad and Kalamassery can be used for such projects.

Sewerage

Instead of septic tanks in each house, sewerage pipes from each house can be linked to a main pipe and the system can be connected to a treatment plant. Space for the plant has been identified on Port Trust land. The two per cent solid waste can be turned into manure and 98 per cent water can be disinfected and used either for irrigation or let into the sea. A horticulture farm can also be set up nearby.

Solid Waste

A new plant with the capacity to treat 150 lorries of waste should replace the low capacity tanker in Brahmapuram. This can be done within 90 days.

Drainage

The drains that crisscross the city are clogged at the outlets and at different spots as they are at different levels. A level mapping should be done and a levelling mechanism put in place to ensure the smooth flow of water into the sea. As tidal variations range up to 60cm, sea water can me made to flow at least 2 km on the land. Tidal exchange in canals and drains will help eradicate mosquitoes and prevent growth of water hyacinths, as they cannot survive in saline.

Roads

Being a coastal region, the sub-soil has to be tested and refurbished for a stronger base. Roads should be concretised in waterlogged areas. BM, BT and plastic roads should replace the present ones to guarantee at least five-year life. To prevent traffic congestion, all link roads leading to main roads should be developed. It can be implemented within three months after consulting the Kerala Highway Research Institute and other agencies.

Potable water

Enough resources are available in the Periyar and Muvattupuzha river. An agency can be entrusted with filtering and generating potable water from both the rivers which will be more than enough to quench the city’s thirst. Around Rs 7 crore is being spent on supplying potable water in tanker lorries.WaterwayA waterway from Marine Drive to the Kochi Airport through Kadamprayar should be developed to ease traffic.

Planetarium

A planetarium is being planned for which 5 acres of land is required. The city lacks in entertainment zones, especially for children. More activity-oriented programmes for children will be opened at Children's Park.

Tourism

Kochi should be made the Gateway of Kerala. Thrust should be on destination tourism. Packages to Ezhattumukham, Kalady, Tripunithura Hill Palace should be designed to experience the essence of Kerala
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/city-needs-a-vertical-limit/337671.html

City needs a vertical limit

Planetarium

A planetarium is being planned for which 5 acres of land is required.

Good going Mr. Collector :)

City needs a vertical limit

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2011/11/27/1-CITY.jpg

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/city-needs-a-vertical-limit/337671.html

I am not sure if curtailing the vertical growth is the ideal method for a city like Kochi. If you look at the majority of large cities in the world, vertical growth was never curtailed to the level as suggested. These cities have thrived despite the necessary vertical growth.For a city like kochi where there is severe space crunch it is not practical. The infrastructure and planning needs to show some fore thought in order to accommodate the need for vertical growth.

I am not sure if curtailing the vertical growth is the ideal method for a city like Kochi. If you look at the majority of large cities in the world, vertical growth was never curtailed to the level as suggested. These cities have thrived despite the necessary vertical growth.For a city like kochi where there is severe space crunch it is not practical. The infrastructure and planning needs to show some fore thought in order to accommodate the need for vertical growth.

Well, I too join with your view... The Collector is quite ambitious and he want to see Kochi Metropolitian area expanding untill Nedumbassery, if vertical limit is fixed..... But in a high population density region like Kerala, such things are not advisable.... The pressure on ground now itself is alarming and cannot be increased due to law.... Rather Kerala should have Dubai-Singapore model of urban development which grows more vertically than horizontally.....

Its not area that matters metro region.... Rather increased quality of life, better facilities and better investment matters..... I would give 2 cents for all suggestions of our collector, except this one......

And thanks sir, for dreaming big.... But please dream Kochi with skyscrapers, not just houses.........:cheers:

In a space crunched place like Kochi/Kerala vertical expansion should actually be encouraged rather than discouraged. Big buildings means automatic set-backs allowing for wider roads, much bigger common open areas, better success in schemes such as waste incinerators, solar heating etc (owing to numbers) and more.

Just one example to put things in perspective: there are some 50 odd G+2 residential quarters in front of the Ernakulam Jn railway station. Demolish all of them and fit all these houses into two or three skyscrapers and we get space to double the existing capacity of Ernakulam Jn railway station!

Well, I too join with your view... The Collector is quite ambitious and he want to see Kochi Metropolitian area expanding untill Nedumbassery, if vertical limit is fixed..... But in a high population density region like Kerala, such things are not advisable.... The pressure on ground now itself is alarming and cannot be increased due to law.... Rather Kerala should have Dubai-Singapore model of urban development which grows more vertically than horizontally.....

Its not area that matters metro region.... Rather increased quality of life, better facilities and better investment matters..... I would give 2 cents for all suggestions of our collector, except this one......

And thanks sir, for dreaming big.... But please dream Kochi with skyscrapers, not just houses.........:cheers:

Cities need to spread both ways rather than growing in one direction. By doing so the the concentration of population towards a single point can be avoided and that's how city should develop. For that matter of point what I feel is that Trivandrum leads the way, where the city is not pointed on a particular point.
Dubai and Gulf countries will prove wrong in the near future
City doesn't means Skyscrapers.

Cities need to spread both ways rather than growing in one direction. By doing so the the concentration of population towards a single point can be avoided and that's how city should develop. For that matter of point what I feel is that Trivandrum leads the way, where the city is not pointed on a particular point.
Dubai and Gulf countries will prove wrong in the near future
City doesn't means Skyscrapers.

Horizontal growth is always suggestive in places with excess land. Vertical planned growth is ideal. Dubai won't prove wrong since its well planned and built.

Cities need to spread both ways rather than growing in one direction. By doing so the the concentration of population towards a single point can be avoided and that's how city should develop. For that matter of point what I feel is that Trivandrum leads the way, where the city is not pointed on a particular point.
Dubai and Gulf countries will prove wrong in the near future
City doesn't means Skyscrapers.

I agree with dearsumesh in that the idea should be one of decongestion rather than adding more pressure to the existing dilapidated infrastructure inside the city. Hence more vertical growth inside city,I support the views of Collector.

Horizontal growth is always suggestive in places with excess land. Vertical planned growth is ideal. Dubai won't prove wrong since its well planned and built.

Wait and watch Dude

Wait and watch Dude

Wait till?? Dubai didn't prove wrong when it was at its peak of growth! What do you intend to convey?

Wait till?? Dubai didn't prove wrong when it was at its peak of growth! What do you intend to convey?

Growth.................. still?????????????????????
OMG

Growth.................. still?????????????????????
OMG

Please! SPAMS discouraged!

Low-cost waste management mooted


Evergreen Mission Community Development Services has recommended a low cost portable bio-waste management method.

Varghese John, secretary of the initiative, said here on Monday that the system is eco-friendly, easy to implement and maintenance-free.

He said that three bins will be used to process the kitchen waste generated in homes. Odo Mask bio-culture developed by the mission is sprayed on the waste for fast and odourless decomposition. This process should be done on a daily basis. A mixture of cow dung, curd, black top soil, jaggery, yeast, saw dust or coir pith should also be sprayed on the waste. Waste should be deposited in this bin for one month.

Mr. John said that this process should be repeated in the next two bins for the next two months. After 90 days, the waste in the first bin would turn into quality manure that could be used for agricultural purposes. Mr. John said that the cost for this system ranges between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 4,000.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2670122.ece

City needs a vertical limit

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2011/11/27/1-CITY.jpg

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/city-needs-a-vertical-limit/337671.html

Builders pin hopes on high rises

KOCHI: Though the District Collector feels that congestion in the city is caused by the increasing number of high rises within the city limits, builders in Kochi have a different view of the situation.

“With space becoming such a rarity, vertical expansion is the only feasible way to ensure that the ever-increasing population of Kochi can be accommodated,” said M V Antony, president, CREDAI Kochi. “Kochi does not have enough land to allow further horizontal expansion without causing more congestion. Horizontal expansion means less space for landscaping and greenery. Moreover, limiting the vertical expansion to the suburbs will be feasible only if the infrastructure of Kochi is improved. There needs to be good connectivity and service available in the suburbs for people to move out of the city,” he added.

“After the Kochi Metro rail project is finished, the city's growth must be centred round it so that people need not rely much on other means of transportation,” said Antony.

Kerala Builders Association president M D Jairaj said that in the developed cities across the world, vertical growth has been the only solution when it came to the problem of increasing congestion. “Lack of space is an issue that is only going to become worse in the future as there will be a steep increase in demand. To meet it, the only amicable solution is to build more high rises. Moving the growth to the city's outskirts would mean that people too should live in the suburbs. For this to happen, the commercial circles too should move outwards,” he added.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Builders-pin-hopes-on-high-rises/337669.html

Kerala always gets outdated rakes
The step-motherly attitude of Indian railways towards Kerala continues unhindered. The railways has not allotted even a single new rail coach to Kerala for the last five years. According to sources, the indifferent attitude of the authorities may create problems for the upcoming Kochi suburban service. :ohno:

Unless the ensuing railway budget ensures the allocation of a sufficient number of new coaches, the state will get only outdated MEMU rakes from Tamil Nadu for running suburban services, sources said.

Southern Railway (SR) higher-ups, who denied this allegation, however, maintained that SR as a whole has not been allocated any new coaches for the last five years.

"We are facing a dire shortage of rakes. This affects our short and long distance services. We cannot directly demand coaches from Integral Coach Factory (ICF). It is the railway board which should allocate it. The allocation process is on a rotation basis and more prominence is given to North Indian states and to zones where the demand is high. In fact, what SR receives as new trains through budget allocation every year is nothing but out-dated rakes which had already conducted service for a long period through northern zones," a senior SR official said.

In the financial year 2010-11, a total of 1,503 coaches were delivered from ICF at Perambur in Chennai.

At the moment an upgradation process is on here, at an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore, for manufacturing technically improvised stainless steel shells and high speed rakes. The process will also witness an enhancement of the workshop's capacity. It would be enabled to produce 1,700 coaches per year against the current 1,500. But none of these improvement works is going to benefit Kerala or Southern Railway.

ICF officials said they had no idea on the allocation of the coaches. The factory's claim over the coaches ends once they manufacture and deliver it.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Kerala-always-gets-outdated-rakes/articleshow/10911436.cms)

മുല്ലപ്പെരിയാര്*: ആശങ്കയുടെ മുള്*മുനയില്* ജില്ല

Published on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 10:51 ( 3 hours 24 min ago)



കൊച്ചി: മുല്ലപ്പെരിയാറിനെ സംബന്ധിച്ച ആശങ്ക ഉയരുമ്പോള്* ഭീതിയുടെ മുള്*മുനയില്* എറണാകുളം ജില്ല. ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലയില്*നിന്ന് താഴ്ന്ന് സ്ഥിതി ചെയ്യുന്ന എറണാകുളത്തിനായിരിക്കും ഡാമിന് അപകടം സംഭവിച്ചാല്* ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ദുരന്തം ഏറ്റുവാങ്ങേണ്ടിവരിക. മുല്ലപ്പെരിയാറുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് അപകട പ്രത്യാഘാത പഠനം (ഡാം ബ്രേക് അനാലിസിസ്) പോലും നടക്കാത്തതിനാല്* ദുരന്തത്തിന്*െറ വ്യാപ്തി സംബന്ധിച്ച് യഥാര്*ഥ ചിത്രം ഇനിയും ജനങ്ങളിലേക്ക് എത്തിയിട്ടില്ല.
മുല്ലപ്പെരിയാറിന് അപകടം സംഭവിച്ചാല്* താഴെയുള്ള ഡാമുകള്*ക്കും അപകടം സംഭവിക്കുമെന്നാണ് വിലയിരുത്തല്*. ചെയിന്* റിയാക്ഷന്* പോലെ ഡാമുകള്* തകര്*ന്നാല്* കുത്തിയൊലിക്കുന്ന വെള്ളം ജില്ലയില്* കനത്ത നാശമായിരിക്കും വിതക്കുക. പെരിയാറിലൂടെയും മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ ആറിലൂടെയുമായിരിക്കും കൂടുതല്* വെള്ളം ഒഴുകിപ്പോവുക. നദികളുടെ ഇരു കരകളിലുമായി കിലോമീറ്ററുകള്* വീതിയില്* വെള്ളത്തിന്*െറ കുത്തൊഴുക്കുണ്ടാകും. എന്നാല്*, ഒഴുകുന്ന വെള്ളത്തിന്*െറ അളവ്, വേഗത, ഉയരം, ദിശ എന്നിവ സംബന്ധിച്ച് കൃത്യമായ വിവരങ്ങള്* ശാസ്ത്രീയപഠനത്തിന്*െറ അഭാവത്തില്* ജനങ്ങള്*ക്ക് നല്*കാന്* അധികൃതര്*ക്ക് കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ല. ജില്ലയുടെ ഏതൊക്കെ ഉയരം കൂടിയ പ്രദേശങ്ങളാണ് വെള്ളത്തിന്*െറ കുത്തൊഴുക്കില്*നിന്ന് രക്ഷപ്പെടുകയെന്ന് ഇനിയും നിര്*ണയിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. വെള്ളപ്പാച്ചലില്*നിന്ന് രക്ഷപ്പെടുന്ന പ്രദേശത്ത് വെള്ളം ഉയര്*ന്നാലും അപകടത്തിന്*െറ രൂക്ഷത കുറയും. ഇത്തരം പ്രദേശങ്ങള്* കണ്ടെത്തി ജനങ്ങള്*ക്ക് മുന്നറിയിപ്പ് നല്*കിയാല്* രക്ഷാകേന്ദ്രങ്ങളാക്കി ഈ പ്രദേശങ്ങളെ മാറ്റാന്* കഴിയും. പെരിയാറിലെ അവസാനത്തെ അണക്കെട്ട് ഭൂതത്താന്*കെട്ടാണ്. ദുര്*ബലമായ അവസ്ഥയിലാണ് ഇത്. ഇതില്*നിന്ന് കാര്*ഷികാവശ്യത്തിന് നിര്*മിച്ച കനാലുകള്* വഴിയും വെള്ളപ്പാച്ചില്* ഉണ്ടാകും. കോതമംഗലം, പറവൂര്*, ആലുവ, കുന്നത്തുനാട്, കണയന്നൂര്* താലൂക്കുകളുടെ നിലനില്*പ്പാണ് ചോദ്യം ചെയ്യപ്പെടുന്നത്.
ദുരന്തത്തിന്*െറ തീവ്രത കുറക്കാനും മരണസംഖ്യ കുറക്കാനും മുന്*കരുതലുകള്* പരമപ്രധാനമാണ്. മുല്ലപ്പെരിയാറിന്*െറ അപകടാവസ്ഥയെക്കുറിച്ച് ചര്*ച്ചകള്* തുടങ്ങിയിട്ട് വര്*ഷങ്ങളായെങ്കിലും ജനങ്ങളെ ദുരന്തം നേരിടാന്* സജ്ജമാക്കാനോ ബോധവത്കരണം നടത്താനോ പരമാവധി ജീവന്* രക്ഷിക്കാനോ ഉള്ള നടപടികള്* സര്*ക്കാറുകളുടെ ഭാഗത്തുനിന്നോ അധികൃതരുടെ ഭാഗത്തുനിന്നോ ഉണ്ടായിട്ടില്ല. പതിവ് വികാര പ്രകടനങ്ങള്*ക്കപ്പുറം സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ വലിയൊരു ജനസംഖ്യയെ നേരിട്ട് ബാധിക്കാവുന്ന ദുരന്തത്തെ കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യാന്* ആത്മാര്*ഥമായ ശ്രമം അധികൃതരുടെ ഭാഗത്തുനിന്ന് ഉണ്ടാകുന്നില്ളെന്നാണ് ഇവ വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നത്.
മലവെള്ളപ്പാച്ചിലില്* വന്നടിയുന്ന മണ്ണ് കടുത്ത നാശം വിതക്കുമെന്നും ആശങ്കയുണ്ട്. നെടുമ്പാശേരി വിമാനത്താവളവും കൊച്ചി ഷിപ്യാര്*ഡും തുറമുഖവും വല്ലാര്*പാടം ടെര്*മിനലും എല്*.എന്*.ജി ടെര്*മിനലും ദക്ഷിണ നാവിക ആസ്ഥാനവുമെല്ലാം ദുരന്തത്തെ അതിജീവിക്കാനുള്ള സാധ്യത കുറവാണ്. വൈപ്പിന്* ദ്വീപ് സമൂഹത്തെയും ദുരന്തം ബാധിക്കും. ഏലൂര്* വ്യവസായമേഖലയും തുടച്ചുനീക്കപ്പെടും. ഏലൂരിലും കൊച്ചിയുടെ വിവിധ ഭാഗങ്ങളിലും സംഭരിച്ച അമോണിയ അടക്കമുള്ള രാസവസ്തുക്കള്* ദുരന്തത്തിന് തീവ്രത കൂട്ടുമെന്ന് ആശങ്കയുണ്ട്. ദുരന്തമുണ്ടായാല്* കൊച്ചി നഗരത്തിന് ഒരു പുനര്*ജനി സാധ്യമാകുമോയെന്ന സംശയവും നിലനില്*ക്കുന്നു.
മുല്ലപ്പെരിയാറില്* ദുരന്തമുണ്ടായാല്* നിമിഷങ്ങള്*ക്കകം ദുരന്തത്തിന് ഇരയാകുന്ന ജില്ലകളിലെ വൈദ്യുതി, വാര്*ത്താവിനിമയ സംവിധാനങ്ങള്* തകരാറിലാകും. ഇതോടെ, ദുരന്തത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് അറിയാന്* പോലും കഴിയാതെ വരും. ഇതിന് ബദല്* സംവിധാനം ഒരുക്കാന്* അധികൃതര്* ഇനിയും മെനക്കെട്ടിട്ടില്ല.
പുതിയ ഡാമിനെക്കുറിച്ചും നിലവിലെ ജല വിതാനത്തില്* കുറവുവരുത്തുന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ചും കൂലംകുഷമായ ചര്*ച്ചകള്* നടക്കുമ്പോള്* ജനങ്ങളുടെ സ്വത്തിനും ജീവനും പരമാവധി നാശനഷ്ടം കുറക്കാനുള്ള നടപടികള്* ഇല്ലാതെ പോകുന്നത് ജില്ലയിലെ ലക്ഷക്കണക്കിനായ ആളുകളെയാണ് ആശങ്കയിലേക്ക് തള്ളിവിടുന്നത്. ഡാമുകള്* സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്ന ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലയില്* പോലും ദുരന്തമുണ്ടായാല്* അത് എങ്ങനെ നേരിടണമെന്നത് സംബന്ധിച്ച മുന്നൊരുക്കങ്ങള്* ഒന്നും നടത്തിയിട്ടില്ല
http://www.madhyamam.com/news/135895/111129


There is a Big risk for Ernakulam District if Mullaperiyar Dam Breaks. The Two Rivers- Periyar and Muvattupuzha river will be flooded kilometers wide.
There is no studies conducted to determine safe areas to rescue people.

In a space crunched place like Kochi/Kerala vertical expansion should actually be encouraged rather than discouraged. Big buildings means automatic set-backs allowing for wider roads, much bigger common open areas, better success in schemes such as waste incinerators, solar heating etc (owing to numbers) and more.


Vertical expansion should be allowed only if the above said things also happen. i.e. automatic set-backs allowing for wider roads, much bigger common open areas, better success in schemes such as waste incinerators, solar heating etc (owing to numbers)

Means,

1. On the side of a single lane road, only independent houses allowed
2. Two laned road - building upto 5/6 flr
3. 4+ laned road - skyscrapers..
4. govt should prescribe compulsory open space in every apartment complex

When an exception is given to build a sky scraper is build beside a single lane road, they leave enough space at builder's cost, infront of their project, to develop the road to 4 lane in future.

Once that road side all property is developed into apartments, traffic block will start, and govt. can lay 4 lane road easily without any land aquisition.

In present scenario this is not happening in most areas of Kochi, which will lead to severe traffic blocks /infrastructure crunch , in future once all properties are developed into apartments.

^^^

FAR and Fire safety regulations already have stipulations to this effect. The permissible height depends on the plot size and road width, but it does not distinguish between 2 and 4 lane roads....

Almost all the skyscrapers even now do have ample space between the road and the building, but it may be fenced off and put to uses such as gardens and parking. Agreed there is a need to fine-tune to law to specify minimum open areas, space for parking to exclude the area required for possible road expansion etc. But what is more important is enforcing the existing laws properly.

Shopping Malls in Kochi Kerala India (http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-7907814820447738%3A4102421813&ie=UTF-8&q=mall+kochi&sa=Search&siteurl=www.mallregister.com%2F#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=mall%20kochi&gsc.page=1)

Do not panic, administration tells people


The district administration has asked the people of the district not to panic over the safety concerns emanating from the state of the Mullaperiyar dam.

District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed said that the administration is fully geared to ensure the safety of the people in the event of a crisis. Heads of various departments in the district attended a meeting convened to discuss the issue on Monday.

Irrigation department officials described the present situation of the dams in the district. The water level in the Idamalayar dam has risen to 90 per cent. Full capacity utilisation of the dam will be possible if the water level rises by another 5 per cent.

At present, only one generator is operating at the dam. Mr. Pareed had asked the dam authorities to provide advance information through the media if the outflow of water from the dam is to be increased. The outflow from lower Periyar is under control.

While admitting that a disaster at Mullaperiyar will have far reaching consequences for the district, the Collector assured the people that there is nothing to worry as of now. He urged the people not to be taken in by scare mongering and speculation.

Mr. Pareed said the State government had given adequate instructions to the district authorities. He said that all arrangements had been taken for rehabilitating people in the event of a rise in the water level in the Periyar.

The Collector asked taluk and village-level offices under the revenue department to be on constant alert.

Additional District Magistrate E.K. Sujatha; Assistant Collector Bhandari Swagath Ranbeer Chand; Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) P. Indiradevi; Fort Kochi Revenue Divisional Officer S. Shanavas; Assistant Commissioners of Police Amos Maaman and George Pius; and irrigation department executive engineers K.V. Joly and Harinarayan attended the meeting.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2673321.ece

Get happy to know.... Our city Kochi is one of the lowest air polluted city in the country.... Our city has air pollution only 35 PM10 (Particulate Matter Less than 10 microns), when the maximum permissible limits as per National Standards is 60 PM10.

Delhi is the worst air polluted city with more than 259 PM10.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-is-air-pollution-capital-too/1/162114.html

Get happy to know.... Our city Kochi is one of the lowest air polluted city in the country.... Our city has air pollution only 35 PM10 (Particulate Matter Less than 10 microns), when the maximum permissible limits as per National Standards is 60 PM10.

Delhi is the worst air polluted city with more than 259 PM10.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-is-air-pollution-capital-too/1/162114.html

Great!!!!!:banana::banana::banana:

Standoff over land acquisition continues


KOCHI: Even as the corporation council remains stubborn against allotting land at Brahmapuram for a private company to set up a sewage treatment plant, the district administration has examined the required land and submitted the report to the village office and the High Court.

“An advisory commission, along with the RDO, had gone and examined the site. A report has been submitted to the High Court regarding the same,” said District Collector PI Sheik Pareeth. He added that the site was found to be acceptable for the construction of the plant.

Earlier, the High Court had ordered that 40 cents of corporation-owned land at Brahmapuram be allotted to Aquakem Engineers (India) Pvt Ltd to set up a sewage treatment plant. However, the council decided against it stating that the new plant would spark off local protests since the residents were already irked by the working of the existing solid waste treatment plant there.

The instruction of the High Court was to operate the plant as a pilot project for the first six months and then, if the Pollution Control Board is satisfied with its operation, to continue with its operations.

Otherwise, the company will have to remove the plant at its own cost, for which the company had agreed. “Since the required area has been earmarked, the company will move ahead with the work of the pilot project. We will soon approach the corporation regarding the same,” said Sreekumar V M, operations manager, Aquakem Engineers (India) Pvt Ltd.

“For the plant to be set up there, the municipality needs to give a clearance certificate. This will not be possible since the people are bound to oppose the construction. However, the other decisions will be taken after the corporation receives the company’s request,” said T K Ashraf, chairman, Health Standing Committee, Kochi Corporation.
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/standoff-over-land-acquisition-continues/338434.html

Unmanned level crossings: Stop, look and proceed


KOCHI: The city will see autorickshaw, tempo and bus drivers joining hands with the railway staff on the Indian Railways pursuit to create awareness among the public on the need to be vigilant at level crossings on Wednesday.

The initiative is a part of an ongoing campaign by the Thiruvananthapuram division of the Southern Railways, which was launched across the state on November 10.

At least, 200 staff of the railways have been deployed to spread awareness among the public in the state, especially in the Alappuzha regions which have seen many deaths, at the level crossings, in the previous years. Also Ernakulam, which has at least 14 unmanned level crossings, is in a strong need of the campaign, the railway authorities said.

According to railway authorities, safety at level crossings and lack of awareness among people regarding the dangers at unmanned level crossings is one of the prior issues being taken up by the railways.

In the wake of at least 15 accidents at unmanned level crossings, in the past five years, in the Thiruvananthapuram division alone and another accident at the Oachira-Karunagappally stretch this year, the railway authorities said that the issue needs a stronger stand. Senior signalling engineer Selvan said, “We are distributing pamphlets with the slogan, “Nilku, Sradhikhu, Kadannupovu (Stop, Look and Proceed). Autos, buses and tempos within the city will be identified to carry stickers with the message for the public. Also, surprise checks will be conducted at the level crossings. Most of the time, the carelessness shown by the public is the reason for the accidents.

”Pamphlets will be distributed in the market places, bus stands, schools and colleges. “Also, we have been instructed to man 12 unmanned level crossings in the state, especially along the Alappuzha stretch,” Selvan said.

People are requested to obey traffic rules. Defaulters will be dealt with the provisions under the Railway act, railway authorities stated.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/unmanned-level-crossings-stop-look-and-proceed/338436.html

Traffic far exceeds carrying capacity of roads
In the past many years, Kochi has seen the highest number of vehicles when compared to other cities in the state. Every month, a record number of new vehicles are registered and enter the already congested city roads.
As per the records of the Motor Vehicles Department, more than five lakh vehicles were registered last year. Ernakulam RTO T J Thomas said the figures of 2011 are likely to exceed that of 2010.
Two-wheelers top the list of the newly registered vehicles, RT officials said. The present roads cannot take the traffic volume far greater than their carrying capacity, Thomas said. Moreover, the roads were not developed as per the requirements of the city, he added.
On overcoming the issues related to traffic congestion, he said there was a need to control the rising number of vehicles. “As there is a check on population growth, there should be a control on the number of vehicles,” he said.
“The trend that is seen today is that a family of four would have four different vehicles. That only adds to the congestion. If the family uses only one vehicle, it would be better,” Thomas said. The people should be made aware of the benefits of using public transport system, he added. The officials with the Motor Vehicles Department said the roads in Kochi have not changed much in the past 30 years. Almost all the roads are narrow and ill-maintained, which makes travelling difficult. Most of the officials said there was a need for unifying the public transport system to ease the congestion on city roads.

IBN (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/traffic-far-exceeds-carrying--capacity-of-roads/206799-60-122.html)

Don't back the statement that Kochi's roads hasn't changed in 30 years!! WTF?

Has he seen the same Bypass, SP-AP road, Container road, Goshree roads etc 30 years ago? :nuts: But i did not mean the roads are here to support the traffic!! We need immediate development. The number of vehicles are doubling every day.

A small analysis on Traffic!

Allotted Numbers!
Ernakulam - KL-07-BS 94--
Adding to that Ekm has 8 Sub-RTO's:
Muvattupuzha - KL-17-H 80--
Tripunithura - KL-39-D 16--
Perumbavoor - KL-40-F 17--
Aluva - KL-41-E 81--
North Paravur - KL-42-E 97--
Mattanchery - KL-43-D 12--
Kothamangalam - KL-44-A 95--
Angamaly - KL-63 52--

While the stats of second most crowded district of Trivandrum is:

Trivandrum - KL-01-BD 80-- (Govt. vehicles add to this)
Additional 5 Sub RTO's:
Attingal - KL-16 H-27--
Parassala KL-19-B 75--
Neyyatinkara KL-20-D 005-
Nedumangadu KL-21-D 88--
Kazhakuttom - KL-22-C 88--

Well, a plain analysis like this itself depicts, how big the traffic that roads in Kochi handle (Double the next best)! Also, it attracts the most no. of outside vehicles. We need some urgent road infra devpt!

Source: Kerala MVD

^^
Nedumbassery Area is under which RTO, Aluva or Angamaly?

^^
Nedumbassery Area is under which RTO, Aluva or Angamaly?

It was Aluva earlier, no idea as of now. Probably, it has to be Aluva till Athani and Angamaly thereafter :)

Council demands construction of new dam at Mullaperiyar


http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00852/30kikss01-council_G_852232e.jpg

Councillors led by Mayor Tony Chammany staging a protest in
front of the Gandhi statue near Rajendra Maidan in Kochi on
Wednesday demanding the reconstruction of Mullaperiyar dam.

[quote]The Mullaperiyar issue found resonance in Kochi Corporation on Wednesday with councillors staging a satyagraha before the Gandhi statue near Rajendra Maidan.

Expressing concern over the safety of the people of Kerala, the councillors demanded that a new dam be constructed in place of the existing one to save the people. The councillors, led by Mayor Tony Chammany, staged the satyagraha after a corporation council meeting which unanimously urged the Centre to permit the State to construct a new dam.

The resolution was taken for discussion in the council after suspending the agenda that was drafted for its business on Wednesday.

Moving the resolution in the council, the Mayor pointed out that millions of people of the State were living in constant fear as tremors were reported from the district recently. Any failure of the dam would directly affect the lives of over 35 lakh people in Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Alapuzha districts, he said.

The construction of a new dam and lowering the water level of the existing dam till the construction of the new dam are the two options that can save the lives of people of the State. The Central government and the State governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu should work in tandem to solve the crisis, the resolution demanded.

Even if permission is obtained for constructing a new dam, it would take at least four years for its construction. The governments should chart out schemes for ensuring the safety of the people of the State till the new dam is constructed, the resolution said.

K.J. Jacob, the leader of LDF in the council, urged the Prime Minister to intervene to solve the crisis and prevent the escalation of tension between the two States and their people.

Those who took part in the discussion included N. Venugopal, Pathukutty Ashraf, C.A. Shakkeer and Sudha Balachandran.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2676697.ece

Taxing times ahead


KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation is planning to intensify the tax collection drive. The second phase of the drive will begin on January 2012 and the civic body is targeting a total of Rs 100 crore revenue through tax collection before March 2012.

“The recent tax collection drive has helped the corporation to garner a revenue of `45 crore. With the launch of the second phase in January, we hope to achieve the set target of `100 crore between March 2011 and March 2012,” said an official with the Kochi Corporation Revenue Department. The corporation had recently revised the property tax rates as per the instructions given by the Local-Self Government Department. The new assessment will be based on the floor area ratio. “We will start issuing the self-assessment forms by December,” the official said.

The self-assessment of property tax is a process in which a taxpayer will be issued a form in which all taxable income on his or her property is written, including the tax they owe which is to be returned (usually with the payment as well). “Tax defaulters will have to submit the dues before filing the self-assessment form,” the official said.

He said the corporation had already served notices on the owners of 159 buildings on MG Road and Edappally Bypass. “A majority of these buildings have made alterations in their building plan by deviating from the approved ones. Likewise, some have added extra floors to the building and converted parking spaces into commercial ones,” he added.

The buildings that have been served notices include hospitals, hotels and commercial establishments. The Revenue Department will focus on buildings that were assessed as residential ones for taxation purposes earlier and later converted into commercial establishments. Since there is a considerable difference in the tax rate for the two categories, the civic body will re-assess such buildings and collect taxes accordingly. The official said that the Revenue Department had already started preparation of the list of tax defaulters. “The list is expected to be completed by December 15,” he said. http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/taxing-times-ahead/338964.html

Vigyan Mela from December 15


KOCHI: Aimed at the concept of ‘Self- Reliant India', Swasraya Bharat will conduct a six-day mega science and technology expo, Vigyan Mela, on Siva Temple Ground, Ernakulam, from December 15. The expo will showcase the nation's remarkable achievements in the frontier areas of science, technology, engineering and a host of other fields in which the country has undisputed leadership.

The expo will display the innovations from the ancient past to the 21st century. The event also provides platform for interactions with industry, research, institution, academic fraternity and young researchers. The participants of the exhibition are Indian Space Research Centre (ISRO), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service(INCOIS), Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), various universities, corporate sectors, IT sector and other establishments.

The achievements of Indian financial organisations and rural sectors will also be highlighted in the exhibition. The expo will consist of pavilions like science and technology, biodiversity, energy, space and defence, agriculture, traditional medicine, aqua show, fisheries and school pavilions.

Swasraya Bharat aims at massive mobilisation and motivation of entire society comprising students, teachers, scientists, technocrats and academicians As part of the world Forest annual fest, there will be a national seminar on ‘Greening the Forest for Safe Living' on the School of Marine Science Campus, Cochin University, on December 16.

The other seminars including the one ‘Green Chemistry' will be held at the School of Environment Science, Cochin University, on December 7. A seminar on ‘Harmful Algae Blooms' will be held at the National Institute of Oceanography on December 8. Another seminar on ‘Space Technology and India' will be held at Baratha Mata College, Thrikkakara, on December 9.

There will be a student's congress, the pledge of self-reliance, competition for students, environmental congress, traditional health practitioners' congress, essay and painting competitions for children.   http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Vigyan-Mela-from-December-15/338970.html

Action plan for disaster management soon


KOCHI: An action plan will be soon formulated to deal with chemical disasters in Ernakulam district, said Kesav Mohan, director, Institute of Land and Disaster Management. He was speaking at a meeting of the top Public Sector Industrial Unit officials and other district officials, at the Ernakulam Collectorate conference hall.

In the wake of increasing number of industrial units and factories coming up in Ernakulam district, there is a need for organising constant training and mock drills to avoid any kind of disaster, Mohan pointed out. The institute will organise training sessions for Factories and Boilers Department, Fire and Rescue Services and various police forces in the district. Also the institute will organise practical training programmes for the employees of various important Public Sector Units and industrial establishments in the district. The Institute of Land and Disaster Management is also planning to organise awareness campaigns for general public. The action plan for disaster management would be formulated after considering the suggestions from official level and institution level. We should be prepared to deal with chemical disasters along with natural calamities, he pointed out.

Additional District Magistrate E K Sujatha, disaster management wing deputy collector P Indiradevi, District Information Officer P Vinod, assistant professors at the institute Faisal T Aliyar and Amalraj were also present. The director inspected the functioning of the high tech equipment at the Collectorate, used for rescue operations during natural calamities. The Deputy Collector and other officials were also present for the inspection. Disaster management and related activities have gained significance in view of the recent fire at some parts of the state. Top officials have given strict directions to ensure that disaster management facilities are in place. Also there were directions to review the progress of disaster management activities. Earlier, the district administration had given directions to review the functioning of the disaster management cell operating at the Collectorate.

The proper functioning of the disaster management team has become more significant in view of the ongoing Mullaperiyar issue. There are reports that if in case a tragedy occurs, it would affect more districts in Kerala including Ernakulam.
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Action-plan-for-disaster-management-soon/338971.html

Mass canvas painting for Mullaperiyar


Members of TREE, the nature club of the Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara, will be launching “Voice of the Voiceless” – a mass canvas painting campaign in the cause of Mullaperiyar at Marine Drive in the city on Friday. A communication from TREE said that the Mullaperiyar dam has become a rising concern for the people of Kerala.
With the rising water level and the degrading condition of the dam, fear steadily rises in the hearts of Kochiites.

The pleas and outcries for somebody to do something, seems to be heeded by none. And so TREE is attempting to mobilise these voices, through a mass canvas painting, the communication said.

A 100-metre-long canvas will be put up at Marine drive on Friday, from 3 pm to 6 pm, for the people to express their views on the issue. The event will be attended by persons from different walks of life. “So join us, as we make an attempt to urge those in power to do the needful, in a quick and efficient manner”, it said. For details contact chairman of TREE Akhil Shan on 9400300321 and event coordinator Rejul James on 9567042712.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2679941.ece

A trend-setting bank reaches a milestone


It is celebration time for Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank. Launched in 1961, the bank has become an example for the cooperative movement in the State, growing to become one of the healthiest among cooperative banks in the State.

An impressive deposit base of Rs. 3,065 crore apart, what has distinguished the bank over the last half-a-century is its social commitment and an ability to leverage technology to serve its customers.

It is among a few ISO-certified cooperatives, offering to its customers the benefits of the latest in communications technology, including real-time banking, SMS banking and a network of 43 ATMs.

Among the social initiatives by the bank is the setting up of the EMS Library at Kakkanad, close to the Cooperative Bank headquarters.
The bank spent Rs. 10 crore in 2003 from its surplus funds to set up the library that has come to be appreciated by people.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2679942.ece

Sanitary mission launched
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has called for concerted efforts for the management of waste in the State. Mr. Chandy was speaking after inaugurating the Thrikkakara Assembly Constituency-level inauguration of the Suchitwa Keralam programme here on Thursday.

The State government will lay emphasis for the decentralised processing and management of waste. It will provide 75 per cent of the project cost as subsidy for such projects, he said.

K. Babu, Minister for Excise, felicitated. Benny Behannan, MLA, presided.
Mayor Tony Chammany, Hibi Eden and Dominic presentation, MLAs, district collector P.I. Sheik Pareeth, Mobility Hub Director Dr. M. Beena, literary critic M. Leelavathi and P.K. Alexander, coordinator of the district sanitary mission spoke.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2679940.ece

HC advocates voice protest over Mullaperiyar row


KOCHI: As Mullaperiyar issue continues to spread its fire across the state, legal luminaries of the Kerala High Court came together in the protest against the inaction on the dam issue.

The advocates observed that urgent measures must be taken to bring down the water level of the dam. Delaying this, until the construction of a new dam, could prove fatal to lakhs of people, they observed.

Availing an order from the Supreme Court based on the studies conducted by premier institutions will help in encountering opposition from the Tamil Nadu government.

“In 1970, a treaty signed by Tamil Nadu and the erstwhile Travancore government of Kerala, was renewed by Achutha Menon government. As per this agreement, a fixed quantity of water was to be given by Kerala to Tamil Nadu. However, the agreement mentions that either party can revoke or modify it. The matter pending in the court revolves around two issues. Firstly, if it is possible to construct a new dam and secondly, if it is possible to reduce the water level to the lowest possible degree,” said P K Babu, former senior government pleader of High Court and president of the Forum for Social Justice Kerala.

“This goal can be achieved by providing modern technology available in the international market. In my opinion, reduction of the water level will not affect the irrigation in Tamil Nadu. On the contrary if they provide adequate facilities to construct a new dam, they can increase their irrigation facilities,” Babu added. A mutual consensus between the two states would be the easiest way to resolve the issue and bring down the water level. However, waiting interminably for the court order could be disastrous, he said.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu should evolve there own mechanisms to store water. “Recent earthquakes and predictions of more tremors within the dam premises has called for immediate resolution of crisis. The state has to accept the fact that the construction of the new dam will take several years and it is not an effective solution to the issue. Since, the matter is pending in the Supreme Court. Kerala can secure a favourable order by stressing on the possibility of further tremors and by highlighting the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, research results on the structural stability of the Mullaperiyar Dam, in the event of possible earthquakes,” said Kaleeswara M Raj, Advocate, Kerala High Court.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/HC-advocates-voice-protest-over-Mullaperiyar-row/339152.html

Lack of funds plagues construction of bund


Work on the temporary bund at Purappalikavu to check salinity intrusion into the Periyar river has begun amidst fears that any delay in its completion might affect the water supply system in the district.

The construction of the 270-m-long temporary bund by the Minor Irrigation Department began last week. But sources in the department admitted that work has not gathered pace due to paucity of funds and non-availability of sand for construction work. Huge quantities of sand is collected from the downstream of the river to set up the bund every year. The estimated cost of construction of the temporary bund is around Rs.25 lakh.

Kerala Water Authority officials said that the threat of salinity intrusion loomed large over the water supply system. The permissible limit of salinity in raw water in the Periyar is 250 ppm (parts per million). Salinity levels had reached a maximum, 400 ppm, last year.

Farmers residing at the Kunnukara panchayat said that the speedy completion of the bund would prevent intrusion of saline water into their agricultural land. Nearly 170 families in Cheriyatheykanam and Karaykathuruthu depend on Periyar waters for their farming activities.
K.A. Sathyan, a farmer, said that saline water intrusion could be checked effectively with the commissioning of the proposed permanent regulator-cum-bridge at Purappalikavu using assistance from the NABARD. He said that seven families had agreed to provide their land for the project in view of the change in the alignment of the regulator-cum-bridge. The government had also decided to drop its earlier plan to construct the regulator-cum-bridge 750 metres upstream from the existing temporary bund, he said.

C.M. Joy, president of the Association for Environment Protection, Aluva, said that the saline water would not recede if the discharge level failed to increase in the coming days. The saline water incursion would become irreversible unless rectified immediately, he said.

Officials said an immediate solution to the problem would be to let out more water from the Edamalayar dam from where the tailrace water would flow to Bhoothathanketu dam and was let out to the Periyar River.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2683227.ece

Mass canvas painting for Mullaperiyar


http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2679941.ece

Students express concern over dam

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00854/02kikvn03-P2-MEC_GH_854342e.jpg
Campaign through canvas: A student taking part in a campaign
held at Marine Drive on Friday to express solidarity with the
people residing near the Mullaperiyar dam.

An open canvas painting caught the attention of passers by on Marine Drive on Friday, where the students of Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara, and Model Technical School, Kaloor, took to painting their views on the Mullaperiyar issue on a 100-m-long canvas. The event was organised by TREE – the nature club of MEC, as part of its Mullaperiyar campaign.

“Kochi and Mumbai are two of the strongest defence points of India. Thus the Mullaperiyar disaster is not only a threat to the 35 lakh people of middle Kerala, but also a danger to national security,” said renowned artist M.V. Devan who inaugurated “Voice of the Voiceless.”

Shailaja Menon, member of India Against Corruption said, “we are very glad that there are concerned youngsters today, who in the midst of Facebook and internet have the drive to come out and register the issue facing the society.”

“As the next step of this campaign we intend to take this 100-m-long canvas to the Parliament,” said Akhil Shan, chairman of TREE.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2683231.ece

e-waste collection centre awaits PCB clearance

Even as the amount of e-waste generated in the State is on the rise, an e-waste collection centre proposed at Ambalamedu almost six months ago is yet to get the nod from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB).

PCB said that the clearance would be given as soon as Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited, which had submitted the proposal, gave a concrete proposal of a tie-up with an agency for the recycling of the collected e-waste.

Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited, which runs the Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (CHWTSDF), had proposed a collection centre for electronic and electrical waste generated across the State by utilising a section of its storage facility in July.
KSPCB chairman K. Sajeevan told The Hindu on Saturday that the approval for the facility would be given once the promoting company satisfied twin conditions.

Agreement

“The company will have to reach an agreement with an agency for the proper recycling of the collected waste to ensure that the collection centre does not become a nuisance for the local people. Besides, they will have to convey their board of director's approval to the proposed facility,” he said.

N.K. Pillai, chief executive officer of Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited, said that the proposal had the backing of the company's board of directors.

Talks on

“We are optimistic of reaching an agreement with an agency having the capability for recycling e-waste this month itself. Talks are on with two agencies based in Bangalore and Hyderabad,” he said.

Storage facility

The CHWTSDF has a 2,000 sq.m storage facility for hazardous waste.

The idea is to convert a part of it in to an e-waste collection centre as per the specifications.

Absence of a facility to handle the entire volume of e-waste generated in the State fuelled the proposal for a collection centre.

High investment

The proposal was to collect the e-waste and send it to recognised reprocessing centres in the neighbouring States, as recycling of e-waste was a costly affair requiring investments running into crores. These centres will do the recycling and may even send it to foreign countries like Belgium in cases where precious metals are to be extracted from the waste processed.

Transportation of e-waste from the point of origin to the collection centre will be the responsibility of the operator.

The company had expressed willingness to purchase fully-covered vehicles for the transportation of waste once the proposal is approved.

According to a notification of the Union government's Department of Information Technology dated September last, there were only 16 recognised e-waste re-processors across the country with environmentally-sound management facilities.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2686227.ece

Operation Sweep works in Kochi city

With the police patrol teams on the look-out, those who dump waste in public seemed to have vanished in the city.

The special drive, named Operation Sweep, was launched by the City Police as instructed by the Kerala High Court to curb the habit of dumping garbage in public space. Since the drive started on November 23, 110 cases were registered under different police stations.

The effect of the drive became evident as only one case was registered from the city limits on December 1 and none on Friday. The sole offender was spotted in Udayamperoor police station.

On the first day of the drive, 31 cases were registered in the city. Offenders are booked under section 120 (e) of the Kerala Police Act, which recommends punishment of Rs. 5,000 or one year imprisonment or both.

Sources in the City Police said that the cases registered were probed to check whether there is a trend of city-dwellers dumping garbage in outskirts of the city. However, during the drive, it was found that offenders were from the neighbourhood itself, especially from areas that had flaws in the garbage collection mechanism put in place by local bodies.The City Police have also initiated efforts to clean up wild foliage in uninhabited areas.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2685865.ece

Massive turnout likely for ‘human wall'

Tens of thousands of people are expected to show up for the December 8 ‘human wall' from Mullaperiyar to Kochi to press for an “urgent solution” to the dam issue.

The human wall, being organised by the Left Democratic Front, will begin from the Mullaperiyar dam and end at Marine Drive in Kochi. It will pass through Idukki and Ernakulam districts, covering around 175 km.

George Edapparathy, convener of the Ernakulam district LDF committee, told The Hindu that the Ernakulam district portion of the human wall would begin from Neriamangalam, the Ernakulam-Idukki border town. He claimed that some five lakh people would show up for the human wall along the 74-km route from Neriamangalam to Marine Drive.

He said people would stand shoulder to shoulder from Mullaperiyar to Kochi for 15 minutes from 4 p.m. on Thursday. He estimated that it would take roughly 3.8 lakh people to stand shoulder to shoulder from Neriamangalam to Marine Drive. Normally, for a human chain—where people stand with their extended arms linked with one another's — it would take around 1,250 persons to cover 1 km. In the case of human wall, it would take four times as many people. Mr. Edapparathy said it was not just an LDF event, but an initiative of people from all walks of life concerned with the fate of the dam and the lakhs of people would be hit in the event of a dam break.

He claimed that offers of support were pouring in from schools, colleges, cultural bodies, traders' associations, lawyers' bodies, and trade unions. There were also offers from the Jacobite and CSI churches, environmental organisations, and dozens of NGOs.The Idukki district stretch of the human wall would pass through Vandiperiyar and Kattappana to reach Neriamangalam.

Since there was a 23-km stretch of road through forestland where there were very few residents, the human wall would be manned with people from Peermade taluk, Mr. Edapparathy said.

In Ernakulam district, the wall would take the route through Oonnukal, Kothamangalam, Nellikkuzhi, Kuruppampadi, Perumbavoor, Mudikkal, Kunnukuzhi, Kuttamassery, Aluva, Pulinchuvadu, Muttom, Premier Junction, Edappally Toll, Palarivattom, Kaloor, and Marine Drive. There would be public meetings at 10 places en route.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2686173.ece

Illegal stalls mushroo at Fort Kochi, Mattancherry

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00855/04kijlp09_illegal_s_855963e.jpg
Illegal: Vendors have encroached upon the beautifully laid
footpath near the Fort Kochi police station.

The onset of the peak tourism season in the State has brought with it many fresh encroachers into the Fort Kochi and Mattancherry heritage locales.

Added to this is the irksome canvassing of foreign tourists by many vendors who have illegally put up ramshackle stalls in the once-pristine tourist hubs. They also litter the area with garbage and remnants of fish etc. Emboldened by political patronage, they have stalled many attempts to clear them from public spaces and footpaths.

Fed up with the menace posed by encroachers in the Vasco da Gama Square, the Kerala Tourism (KT) took the initiative in building about three dozen kiosks to rehabilitate the encroachers. “But many kiosks are now run by namesakes, with the original owners illegally setting up stalls elsewhere in the locale,” said a tourism official. He added that the encroachers can be removed in an hour's time if the district administration, Kochi Corporation, tourism authorities and the police initiated a joint move.

“It would suffice to remove a few stalls and the rest of the lot would be pulled down by the owners themselves. Most stalls have been put up by people from outside Fort Kochi, posing law and order problems too,” he said.

Many of the encroachers have stalls in the stretch from St. Francis Church to the Chinese fishing nets. “This is blocking a view of the heritage buildings here and also the famed nets,” said a Fort Kochi resident.

While pedestrians are the worst affected by the encroachments on footpaths and public spaces, many unscrupulous vendors have taken over the parking lots given on contract by the Kochi Corporation. Similar is the situation in Mattancherry, especially in front of the Dutch Palace.

Crass commercialization has resulted in hospitality stakeholders from different States setting up hotels and eateries all around Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. Too many hospitality stakeholders converging at a small locale is also acting as a strain on natural resources, especially on the piped and well water which are often short in supply, said another resident.

“The indiscriminate exploitation of ground water often causes water shortage during summer months. There is also the threat of sea water seeping into the wells if the water table goes down considerably. Rainwater harvesting could be an alternative,” he saidhttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2688226.ece

No parking area turns danger zone

The vehicles parked in the ‘no parking’ zone may miss your attention if you pass through the state highway that passes just in front of the Sunrise Hospital, Kakkanad. This has raised serious concerns as the area has become vulnerable to accidents.

Last week, a tanker lorry collided with an Innova car parked in the no-parking area. The driver and cleaner of the lorry suffered minor injuries in the accident. A major accident was averted as there was nobody in the car. Though accidents have become a routine affair, the authorities are yet to realise the gravity of the situation. The reckless driving coupled with the callousness of the authorities has made Kakkanad a highly accident prone area.

When asked, Thrikkakara Police Station sub inspector Sibi Tom said, “This particular area does not have ‘no parking’ boards. Realising the gravity of the situation, the police department has decided to install such boards there. The expenses will be met by the Sunrise Hospital authorities.” He added that the work to install ‘no parking’ boards will be completed within a week. Sibi Tom also said that defaulters will be strictly dealt with. The risks are high as most of the junctions do not have proper signal system. In Kakkanad, most of the signals were damaged for quite a long time. The gravity of the situation was realised by the authorities when series of accidents, involving death of persons, took place in Kakkanad. Generally, the first alternative opted by the authorities, when something of this happens, is appointing a home guard. However, it is not a viable solution here. Appointing home guards would not serve the purpose as they are not trained to deal with the situation of heavy traffic. A well trained traffic police is the only feasible solution, said Siby Tom.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/No-parking-area-turns-danger-zone/340135.html

Tribesmen get a glimpse of city life

Not many among us will be surprised to see an aircraft. But seeing a man-made machine take off was an unforgettable experience for 33 tribesmen from Edamalakudy, the first tribal panchayat in the country, visiting Nedumbassery on an invitation from the Forest Department and Vana Samrakshana Samithi.

The Forest Department and Vana Samrakshana Samithi, under a five-day programme, ‘Nagara Darshanam’, have brought the tribesmen to Ernakulam to give them a glimpse of life outside forest. “It was a first for most of them,” Munnar Divisional Forest Officer N C Indrachudan said. “The group walked 18 kilometres from their village on foot to reach Munnar on day one. They reached Nedumbassery on Sunday, where they viewed airport and airplane for the first time in their life. They were surprised to see such big flying machines and some wanted similar machines in their village too,” he said.

On Monday, the tribesmen will visit Vazhachal and Athirapilly water falls, where they will be given training in entrepreneurial skills. “These people are experts in bamboo crafting. But most often they are cheated by middlemen. “We will give them training to carry out businesses on their own,” he said.

“They faced heavy debts and relied on illegal activities like ganja cultivation and brewing illicit liquor. We gave them funds and waived off all their debts. Now they are given vocational training to earn more money,” Indrachudan said.

The tribesmen will also be given a chance to travel by train. “They will travel from Ernakulam South to Angamaly on Tuesday. “Later, they will be taken to Cherai beach. We are planning to arrange such tour programmes on a regular basis,” Indrachudan said.
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Tribesmen-get-a-glimpse-of-city-life/340185.html

Special training for school bus drivers

Transport Minister V Sivakumar will inaugurate the district level special training programme, for school bus drivers of the district, at the General hospital on December 17.

Registration will begin at 9 am at the General Hospital hall. “The initiative is the first of its kind in the district. As per the project, school bus drivers who completes this module will be given special training from next academic year onwards. On completing the training, the drivers will get a Basic Life Support (BLS) ID card. Drivers who posses BLS card will only be allowed to drive the vehicles carrying school children,” said District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth.

Classes, both theoratical and practical, will give priority to traffic laws, road safety and first aid.

Van, autorickshaw and KSRTC drivers will also be included in the training programme. Apart from the BLS certificate, the district traffic council will also distribute certificates to the drivers who complete the programme. The special training is organised with the support of Motor Vehicle Department, Police, NRHM, Educational Department and IMA. http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Special-training-for-school-bus-drivers/340180.html

^^

Suggestions are Welcome. Never expect it to happen :)

I am proposing a grand bridge similar to Golden Gate between Fort Cochin and Vypeen, why not? So that NH47 can be linked with NH 17 , lot of city traffic can be diverted from Aroor and Nortt Parur. It should be high enough, so that even largest ships can move below. Something like starting from Veli(In FC) and landing in Malipuram(Vypeen). Folks what is your opinion?

From Fort Kochi, it will be too difficult, as its a heritage zone and cannot spoil the beauty with a mega bridge over it.....

Moreover, most of the roads are too narrow and no scope to widen further as its a thicky populated area.... Most of bldgs are now protected as part of Heritage conservation and pilings would be too difficult....

In such case, I feel, its impossible.... Moreover in opposite side too at Vypeen, the road is narrow to handle huge traffic....

If Shipyard moves out of its location to Puthvypeen, if any, they there can be a proposal of having 8 lane road over reclaimed sea site starting from Aroor Island moving over a reclaimed area thro'out Netoor Island where it joins with Ernakulam via a major bridge and travels adjacent to Thevera-Foreshore Road-Park Avenue-Marine Drive , before diverting to ICTT Road so that, once NH Byepass becomes the city's main Arterial road, this can be substituted....

It can be developed similar to Abu Dhabi's Corniche or Doha Corniche, designed as high speed corridor within city, yet avoiding city traffic being sea-side along with a good green walkway belt.....

Equally, in future, a mega bridge should be planned eastwards from Aroor to Amballur via Aroorkotty, which further connects to SP/AP road considering the mega Electronics/CCIC projects over the area.....

This way, a circle ring road can be established..... But Fort Kochi-Vypeen connection is too difficult.... May be KSRTC can think of introducing Hybrid Buses in future that can travel via road and later move into water for a crossing without a change of vehicle...... There are lots of passengers to connect from Fort Kochi to Vypeen, now needs to circle around the city, instead of 1 km water body that separates them.....

If Shipyard moves out of its location to Puthvypeen, if any, they there can be a proposal of having 8 lane road over reclaimed sea site starting from Aroor Island

Is this your conception or any new proposal?

Is this your conception or any new proposal?

There was a proposal of Shipyard (I mean the proposal from the CSL) for land in Puthuvypeen from CPT for their expansion, which was turned down, instead offered with the land in Cochin Drydocks-Mattancherry Wharf.... The latter proposal was turned down and since CSL alone can't develop the island off-Fort Kochi, they decided to look forward to expansion outside the city... Thats how later CSL started looking for Vizhnjam and Azheekal..... I believed they will soon choose one among them....

But if CPT, which is reeling under financial pressure, if goes for a smart thinking, it can raise good revenue thro' sale of land to CSL in Puthuvypeen as well as thro' real-estate development using the dredged sand starting from Aroor-Ernakulam, especially the Netoor Area and Marine Drive Extension..... Even CSL can raise required revenue for both its Puthuvypeen project and expansion project outside Kochi, using revenue thro' Real Estate activities in MG road.....

There is no point in keeping Puthuvypeen low down for proposed Outer Harbour, say some 15 years later... May be, by that time, some more land can be developed in Puthvypeen just like how this was developed to suit for Port......

If Heritage sites are a problem, why not a eight lane Tunnel, short one 3-4 kms long from Veli to Malipuram. Now India has some of the deepest and longest tunnels( DMR has 26 Km long single tunnel on Airport Express), New Bannihal railway tunnel in J&K ...etc).

Are you living in Kerala dude??

Here we can't develop roads that are 50 years old, carry on normal road projects! and you are speaking about 8-lane under sea tunnel :lol:

Shipyard moving out to Puthuvypeen is an excellent idea. In fact, it should have been located there or Vallarpadom in the first place and not in the heart of the city. Before the Shipyard came, the Madhavan Nair Road (Old Thevara Road) used to go all the way to Thevara Jn and connect to Pandit Karuppan Road and the Venduruthy Bridge. Atlantis was a hotel which is now inside the Shipyard, but the name survives. Shipyard can go in for a planned business district here and a new Arur - Container Road Corniche will do a world of wonder for the city traffic and image.

As for Fort Kochi - Vypeen, neither a tunnel or a Golden Gate type of bridge is practical. The simple solution is to replace the existing junkar with a couple of RO-ROs, and develop the Allapuzha - Chellanam - Fort Kochi - Vypeen - Pallipuram - Kodungallur Road as a coastal bye-pass to take off some load from the NH 47-17. Fom Allapuzha to Fort Kochi, it is a densely populated area throughout and expansion to 4 lane would be difficult. But developing the Ezhupunna - Kumbalangi - Palluruthy - Fort Kochi Road that runs parallel simultaneously will still provide 4 good lanes. At the Vypeen end, the Puthuvype-Cherai Road than runs alongside the beach can easily be developed as a 4 lane "sea highway"

Vallarpadam,CIAL, Angamaly-Thrissur Highway,Naval Academy, Cochin Metro....possible?Why not a Grand Fort Cochin -Vypeen connectivity? I wish leader would have been alive.


These proposals can be considered later on, say after 25-30 years, when the traffic volume on the Aroor-Paravur corridor is worth considering. I don't think its required in this time.

Also i don't think an under-sea tunnel would ever be built crossing Kochi channel, where dredging happens every year. Also The bypass is the process of having multiple interchanges which would need optimum traffic to recoup the cost of construction.

If Heritage sites are a problem, why not a eight lane Tunnel, short one 3-4 kms long from Veli to Malipuram. Now India has some of the deepest and longest tunnels( DMR has 26 Km long single tunnel on Airport Express), New Bannihal railway tunnel in J&K ...etc).

Coastal Highway is a good concept, but I don't feel the nessecity as of today.... Ofcourse the route which V3unn sir said about Ezhupunna-Kumbalangi etc is potential to develop into a 4 lane road and Cherai Beach road can be too extended upto Puthuvypeen. But they don't appear linear to each other....

Then spending billions for a sea-tunnel, it doesn't serve any purpose as it won't able to take up full traffic load from NH Byepass..... The maximum width in both these islands is possible to say around 22 M.... Not even 30.... It would be a nightmare if all trucks and cars plys in such a densely populated route.....

There is a geninue demand for public transport between Fort Kochi and Vypeen as its separted just 1 Km of water body and people are now travelling around 10 Kms to circle the city.....

The best I feel is introduction of Hybrid Buses... It will be a major tourist attraction too connecting the Heritage city of Fort Kochi with Muziris Circuit- the upcoming heritage zone.... The tourism potential is so huge + Oceanarium also coming up..... Apart from Tourism alone, KSRTC can make huge profits, both savings from diesel as well as increased patronage... This will also avoid congestion inside city a lot.....

^^

These can be future projects! The load you mentioned on NH 17, 47, 49 aren't loads if those are developed!

Its the roads which are to be developed, not bridges!

More biometric machines for NPR

The number of biometric machines for collection of biometric data for the National Population Register in Ernakulam district will be trebled soon.

According to the data collection authorities, from January, 120 biometric machines will be deployed. This will be up from the current 42.

The deployment of more machines will speed up of the pace of the data collection process, which is mandatory for all residents above the age of five, in the district, especially in the Kochi Corporation area.

Already, data collection has been completed in Perumbavur and Aluva municipalities as well as in Fort Kochi and the process is going on in North Paravur municipality and Mattancherry.

From December 10, collection will begin in the non-urban areas of Perumbavur taluk. Data collection in the district had first started in the Fort Kochi area. Shortage of biometric machines—which take and store images of the iris and finger prints of all the ten fingers of a person to be added to the NPR—has been a drag on the pace of data collection. Also, the district education officials would soon be asking schools to provide classrooms for hosting data collection centres. Getting sufficient number of classrooms in areas where the collection exercise moves has been a tough problem for the authorities.

Authorities said with the availability of more machines, the data collection would enter a new and fast phase.

The collection process in the district could be completed in well under one year. Residents in each area where the collection process moves would be informed by enumerator at least three days ahead of the actual date of collection.

This would help families to plan their showing up at the centre.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2691007.ece

Appeal for solidarity
The ‘Save Kerala Movement' has appealed to the people of Kerala to observe two minutes of silence from 11 a.m. on December 8 to declare solidarity with the people of who face the threat from any damage to the Mullaperiyar dam. Former judge of the Supreme Court V.R. Krishna Iyer joined the Save Kerala Movement as he called on people to observe two minutes of silence.

Police prepare database of taxi companies, drivers

To ensure the safety of the women working in IT companies, who avail pick and drop service from taxi cabs, the city police is preparing a database of all taxi companies and drivers in the city. The database is being prepared, under the supervision of Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner, to keep a tab on the crime against women in the night.

According to police sources, the project will be completed within a month and will contain details of the drivers and the vehicles used by them to pick and drop women employees at night. “We have asked for the details of the drivers who regularly pick and drop women employees from their houses. The project is undertaken as there are high chances of taxi drivers misbehaving with these women employees. The database will provide the information about the taxi drivers, the taxi number and the route and timing of the taxi. With this information, driver can easily caught in case such a complaint is reported,” police officer said.

Most IT companies in operating in the city mostly rely on taxi service companies for transporting their employees in the night. “The major problem with the IT companies is that they don’t have enough vehicles for the transportation of their employees, especially the women. These companies don’t even maintain proper details of the taxis and drivers coming each day. This poses a major security threat to the women employees. The database containing details of the taxi service will help us to catch the culprit easily,” a police officer said. http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Police-prepare-database-of-taxi-cos-drivers/340453.html

Careful! you are being watched

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2011/12/6/southrailwaysecurity.jpg

Security in the district will be beefed up in connection with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition which falls on Tuesday.

With the onset of Sabarimala pilgrim season, there is a heavy rush in the city.

Adding to the security woes, the police have nabbed a few NDF activists from Sabarimala.

“We will monitor place s where there is heavy rush. Temples, railway stations and bus stands will be under police cover. A strong posse of police personnel has been deployed. Security arrangements are in place to avert any untoward incidents. The Shadow Police have been deployed to ensure safety of Sabarimala pilgrims. Though, there is no specific threat, the security in certain areas is being strengthened. Besides, security will be stepped up at hotels, malls and multiplexes. All entry and exit points of the city are under tight cover. Checking will be conducted in the places where there is any threat,” a police official said.

The anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition falls on the same day as Yaum-e-Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, this year. There have been Intelligence Bureau reports that NDF extremist groups are finding roots in Aluva and Perumbavoor areas. The security beefing up is done in this wake.

According to Special Branch Assistant Commissioner M N Ramesh, security in Kochi city is already on alert owing to the Sabarimala season.

“The Shadow Police is roaming around in mufti to nab anti-socials. We are also monitoring the situation at transit points where pilgrims halt for some time. Hotels and lodges are also under the scanner. Routine security arrangements are in place,” he said.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/careful!-you-are-being-watched/340460.html (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/careful%21-you-are-being-watched/340460.html)

Direct tax mop-up: Metros falter, small cities robust
http://business-standard.com/newsimgfiles/2011/december/06122011/120611_20.jpg

Direct tax realisation across the country shows the major centres of Mumbai and Delhi witnessing flat or negative growth, while smaller ones have shown encouraging trends.

Number one in growth over last year’s net direct tax collection during April 1-December 1 is Bhubaneswar, with a 52.6 per cent increase at Rs 4,187 crore (Rs 2,744 crore in last year’s corresponding period). Of the collection this year, Rs 2,959 crore has come from corporate tax and Rs 1,226 crore from personal income tax.

A senior department official said the better growth in direct tax realisation in smaller regions clearly indicated an increase in business activities in these. And, that this had come despite overall sluggish performance. Jaipur with 43.2 per cent at Rs 3,431 crore (Rs 2,395 earlier) during the period is at the second spot and Bhopal with a 35.5 per cent increase at Rs 5,809 crore (Rs 4,288 crore) is third. Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Kochi are fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, with growth of 34 per cent, 29 per cent, 27.3 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively.

The net collection in Chandigarh during April 1-December 1 was Rs 11,594 crore (Rs 8,659 crore last year, same period). It was ~ 10,942 crore (Rs 8,485 crore) in Ahmedabad; Rs 2,821 crore (2,216 crore) in Lucknow and Rs 3,120 (Rs 2,517 crore) in Kochi. Patna, with 20 per cent growth at Rs 2,766 crore (Rs 2,306 crore), is eighth.

In comparison, the two biggest contributors to the tax kitty, Mumbai and Delhi, have recorded a 0.1 per cent growth and a 1.5 per cent fall, respectively, during April 1-December 1. Net direct tax mop-up during this period in Mumbai was Rs 72,516 crore (Rs 72,445 crore last year); in Delhi, Rs 33,246 crore (Rs 32,750 crore).

Bangalore and Chennai centres have seen an increase in net direct tax realisation by 14 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. The collection in Bangalore was Rs 22,755 crore (Rs 19,950 crore) and Rs 17,382 crore (Rs 15,116 crore) in Chennai. Total net direct tax realisation growth during April 1-December 1 has been 8.8 per cent, as against a 7.1 per cent increase witnessed till October.

While gross direct tax mop-up till December 1 in 2011-12 was Rs 3,03,650 crore, net collections were Rs 2,34,729 crore, after refunds of Rs 68,918 crore. Net direct tax realisation during April-December 1 in 2010-11 was Rs 2,15,659 crore. Of the total net realisation of Rs 2,34,729 crore, about Rs 1,47,225 crore was from corporate tax and Rs 83,535 crore from income tax.

The government’s budget target for direct tax collection is Rs 5.33 lakh crore, with a projected growth of 19 per cent, higher than the 18 per cent in 2010-11.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes is now keenly awaiting the third installment of advance tax payment due on December 15, for an improvement on the growth figure of 8.8 per cent witnessed till December 1.

Business Standard (http://business-standard.com/india/news/direct-tax-mop-up-metros-falter-small-cities-robust/457693/)

Nowadays 3000-5000 meters tunnels can be done in a very short time say maximum one year at the most two. Already many high tech tunnel Boring machines(TBM's) are widely used across India. A single machine can bore 15-20 meters a day. Multy machines are commonly used drastically reducing time.
West Kochi is always neglected for CENTURIES need to be developed.

Well, the issue is why to spend on high amounts over a road/tunnel when both its starting road and ending road doesn't have enough width to accomodate high density traffic that currently plys on NH......

More deeper we need to go for tunnel as the dredging in Kochi Channel has to happen, more it becomes costlier..... And without widening any roads in Fort Kochi-Vypeen side, it doesn't serve the good.....

Acquisition in West Kochi is almost impossible.... In Vypeen side, it would cost somewhat equal to Kochi Metro itself, as the population density is unimaginably high......

So need to explain the returns of the project!!!!!

^^

Ok, Go ahead. I give you full support :lol:

Bridge or Tunnel. It is not just a Aroor-Paroor connectivity. It will be a connectivity of longest National High way in India NH 17(Edapally to Panvel, Mumbai). Many people turning at Aroor to Vytilla, because of break sea at Fort Kochi-Vypeen. Honourable Minister K.V.Thomas will be very interested in this being Kumbalangi his place. French window have no personal interested in this , not belong to west Kochi and not been there for years. But I know Kochi quite well and believe in overall development of Greater Kochi in which most neglected is west Kochi but most picturesque , unique and attractive.

Just for your information: longest NH is NH 7 (Varanasi - Kanyakumari) in older numbering and as per new numbering NH 44 ( Srinagar - Kanyakumari) is the longest.

An under sea tunnel is NOT WORTHY.............. But a HANGING BRIDGE as originally PLANNED by Sir Robert Bristow .[ He dreamt of many COCHIN Upcoming] Why not POSSIBLE even considering the present GEOGRAPHY of Cochin................! It 'll decongest the present city roads ; even Highways

[ and NH s too ].

Why 'malayaali' blocking a NOBLE decision ?
You too are being invited to vote for it , to the appropriate authority................

Wowww, when did our friend Malayaali became Union Surface Transport Minister to block a suggestion? Thats something new to me.....

We are discussing several ideas for our Kochi and equally it may be same. Some ideas irrelevant today may be taken up tommorrow, some relevant today may never be considered..... Our intention is a discussion for information sharing as today Knowledge is the key to growth.....

Well, things have changed a lot from what Bristow dreamed about Kochi and whats its today.... In Bristow's time, his house where he lived was just ordinary like ours today... But today, that very house itself is a classified Heritage property and cannot be touched upon.... Take any major property in Fort Kochi, they all are declared heritage ones..... We are earning millions as tourism revenue because of the thick air of legacy that still preserved in Fort Kochi.....

Damaging all and drawing a 4/6 lane byepass road will not serve any purpose, rather will forever end Fort Kochi as a heritage zone, rather another Ernakulam or Vytilla..... Today, we can just travel 6 kms, if need to go back to Little Lisbon or Little Amsterdam..... I don't think, no will ever think Fort Kochi losing its essence and becoming another Highway......

Secondly during Bristow's days Vypeen was a small fishing hamlet, inhabitated by poor illiterate fisherman with no knowledge of outer world and laws.... It was even possible to kill them overnight and draw a bridge/road over their dead bodies, if refusing to move out..... Is that possible today?

We have seen how the world responded even to remove 100 families in Moolampilly for Vallarpadam project, even using slight force..... And we are talking about a 4/6 lane highway over Vypeen Island, which is reported to be one of the highest densely populated island in the world.....

Its impossible, even to draw 2 meters of land for pipeline laying and how can we dream of drawing 45m highway there, unless Vypeen gets wipped out according to our Seismologist Dr. Yesudas or Mullaperiyar washes off people in the island.....

We can extend Cherai-Puthuvpeen Beach road upto Oceanarium site, which further connects to Goshree Road.... If Cochin Corniche could ever take off, it may offer an alternate byepass to NH 17 (OLD NAME) or may be in future an elevated Byepass over existing NH Byepass will equally solve the riddle......

Bridge or Tunnel. It is not just a Aroor-Paroor connectivity. It will be a connectivity of longest National High way in India NH 17(Edapally to Panvel, Mumbai). Many people turning at Aroor to Vytilla, because of break sea at Fort Kochi-Vypeen. Honourable Minister K.V.Thomas will be very interested in this being Kumbalangi his place. French window have no personal interested in this , not belong to west Kochi and not been there for years. But I know Kochi quite well and believe in overall development of Greater Kochi in which most neglected is west Kochi but most picturesque , unique and attractive.

Well, I believe, Edakochi's prospects lies in smart packing of its tourism which is happening in an amazing rate.... With Alleppey becoming too crowded and commercialized, tour operators and tourism authorities are looking for developing an alternate Alleppey..... The focus of our Collector is developing Kochi-Alleppey Backwaters stretch as an ultimate cruise destination with all the several Islands in North and South Kochi Lake connected and forming a similar network like Kuttanad of Alleppey.....

So most of the homes will be converted into Homestays, botique hotels, resorts etc, fuelling economic growth and sustainable development focused on environment protection, which we can be proud off.....

There is already a proposal to build a four lane road connecting VYPIN - MUNAMBAM - MOOTHAKUNNAM . This can be connected to the HANGING BRIDGE of Fort Cochin . at least an elevated highway possible there , with no harm to heritage sites.

Well Vypeen-Munambam-Moothakunnam 4 lane road is always a dream, which no govt ever able to think about it...... Even construction of a proper 2 lane bridge in Njarakkal is still hanging in fire due to slight acquisition of approach road....

The area is too crowded with houses and its too difficult for acquisition, unless we deploy some military along with Shoot at Sight kind of orders, which ofcourse can't be possible in our dreams too....

The only alternative is Munambam-Cherai-Puthuvypeen road.... Well, an elevated highway still spoils the calm and scenery of Fort Kochi, if passing over it..... The spans etc will only invite more rubbish underneath, rather than adding asesthic beauty....

Remember, lakhs of people visit Kochi every year to see the beauty of Fort Kochi, not to travel in a Hanging bridge, which they can do in Worli-Bandra Sealink road in Mumbai, if wish so..... Perhaps an extension to Fort Kochi island off-West coast is something that can be thought off, like how Puthuvypeen was created out of Vypeen....

It not only adds enough room from further road development, but also increase space for activities, say a long man-made beach etc.... But the concern is that, since it falls under CRZ-1, too difficult to raise revenue from Real estate activities.....

There is already a proposal to build a four lane road connecting VYPIN - MUNAMBAM - MOOTHAKUNNAM . This can be connected to the HANGING BRIDGE of Fort Cochin . at least an elevated highway possible there , with no harm to heritage sites.

Be sensible! We are neither Legislators, nor bureaucrats (at least in my case!) to bring in projects to my assembly. What's the purpose of some futile discussion!

Kuzhikandam creek to be cleaned up

The heavily-polluted Kuzhikandam creek at Eloor here is among the 12 toxic dump sites in the country identified by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for remediation work under the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) programme.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has already initiated talks with the State Pollution Control Boards in eight States to carry out the project. NCEF has approved Rs. 60 crore for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the sites.

Confirming the development, K. Sajeevan, chairman of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the State would receive Rs. 5 crore for drawing up the DPR for remediation work at Kuzhikandam creek.

According to CPCB, the creek was found to have huge deposits of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Investigations also revealed that 24.5 hectares of soil and water bodies at four locations in Eloor were contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals. The sites have been selected based on the quantum of waste dumped, extent of ground or surface water and soil contamination, nature of pollutants and ecological and health impacts.

Mr. Sajeevan said that the State government would have to provide 60 per cent of the total cost of the project. NCEF would pay the remaining 40 per cent. The estimate total cost for cleaning up the 12 sites identified is about Rs. 600 crore. Sources pointed out that the proposal for remediation of the 12 sites is based on the World Bank project on capacity building for industrial pollution management. The project report for the 12 sites will be prepared in consultations with industry experts. The expertise of consultants like Environmental Resource Management of Germany will also be utilized for identifying the technology to be used in these siteshttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2693737.ece

Cine Actress Mamta Mohandas loses out on for KL-7-BT-500

ഇഷ്ട നമ്പറിനായി മമ്ത മോഹന്ദാസ് പൊരുതിത്തോറ്റു

Posted on: 07 Dec 2011

തൃക്കാക്കര: സിനിമാ നടന്മാര്ക്ക് പുറമെ ഇഷ്ടനമ്പറിനായി നടിമാരും രംഗത്തെത്തി. ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച ആര്ടി ഓഫീസില് നടന്ന നമ്പര് ലേലത്തില് സിനിമാ നടി മമ്ത മോഹന്ദാസാണ് ഇഷ്ടനമ്പറിനായി പൊരുതി ത്തോറ്റത്. കെഎല് 07 ബിടി 500 പൂങ്കുടി ഗ്രൂപ്പ് ഒരു ലക്ഷത്തി അഞ്ഞൂറ് രൂപയ്ക്കാണ് ലേലത്തില് സ്വന്തമാക്കിയത്. വാശിയേറിയ മത്സരത്തില് നടി മമ്ത മോഹന്ദാസിന്റെ പ്രതിനിധി ഒരു ലക്ഷം രൂപ വരെ വിളിച്ചെങ്കിലും പിന്നീട് പിന്മാറുകയായിരുന്നു. മൂവായിരം രൂപയോളം ഫീസ് അടച്ചാണ് ദിവസങ്ങള്ക്ക് മുമ്പ് മമ്ത മോഹന്ദാസ് തന്റെ ഇഷ്ട നമ്പര് ബുക്ക് ചെയ്തിരുന്നത്. എന്നാല് ഈ നമ്പര് തന്നെ വേണമെന്ന ആവശ്യവുമായി നിരവധിപ്പേര് രംഗത്തെത്തിയതോടെയാണ് ലേലം വെക്കാന് തീരുമാനിച്ചത്.

സിനിമാ നടന്മാരായ മമ്മൂട്ടി, മോഹന്ലാല്, പൃഥ്വിരാജ് തുടങ്ങിയ നടന്മാര്ക്ക് ശേഷം ആദ്യമായിട്ടാണ് ഒരു നടി ഇഷ്ടനമ്പറിനായി ലേലത്തിലൂടെ രംഗത്തെത്തിയത്. ആര്ടിഒ ടി.ജെ. തോമസ്, മോട്ടോര് വെഹിക്കിള് ഇന്സ്പെക്ടര് അനന്തകൃഷ്ണന് എന്നിവരുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലായിരുന്നു നമ്പര് ലേലം.

Mathrubhumi (http://www.mathrubhumi.com/ernakulam/news/1321005-local_news-thrukkakkara-%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%83%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B0.html)

Cine Actress Mamta Mohandas loses out on for KL-7-BT-500

ഇഷ്ട നമ്പറിനായി മമ്ത മോഹന്ദാസ് പൊരുതിത്തോറ്റു:horse:

I agree with you, let us discuss Mamta Mohandas, very pretty and unfortunate that she did not get her number!! Surely Mamta is more important than Roads and Bridges. Discussing about development is just futile unlike Mamta. Cheers.

:lol:

I hope there wasn't a discussion on that ;)

Illegal hoarding: No holding back

In its efforts to intensify the drive against illegal flex hoardings erected at various parts of the city, the Kochi Corporation has decided to introduce a bylaw to control such advertisements. The Town Planning Committee of the Corporation has already prepared the new hoarding policy, which will be presented at the next council meeting for approval.

As an initial step, the civic body will start removing illegal hoardings erected at the major spots. “We will file criminal cases against the people who have put up these boards for defacement. If proven guilty, they would be fined,” said K J Sohan, chairman, Town Planning standing Committee.

He said that the civic body initially will focus on removing illegal posters, banners and hoardings at the Marine Drive, one of the favourite spots for advertisers. “The hoardings erected at the Banerjee road and the Sahodaran Ayyappan road will also be removed soon,” Sohan added.

Regarding the new bylaw, Sohan said that it would be in tune with the guidelines issued by the Indian Road Congress (IRC). “The IRC norms clearly specify that hoardings erected on the sides of roads should be at a minimum 50-metres away from the road at least 15-metres high. They should not block the view of the motorists, wayside buildings and must not affect the pedestrians,” he added.

Sohan said that the bylaw would be brought into force after obtaining the nod of the council.

Along with that, the civic body would also take action against the advertisers who are using trees to place their advertisement boards. “We have already prepared a list that includes the number of trees on which illegal flex hoardings are mounted. Some small advertisers use these tress to nail their posters and boards. We are looking into the possibilities of filing cases against the advertisers for defacing public property,” he added.
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/illegal-hoarding-no-holding-back/341168.html

Plea to transport goods through rivers

The newly-constituted Kerala Maritime Organization, comprising ship owners and operators, ship builders and ship designers, has called for strengthening transport of cargo through river and coastal routes to decongest roads, to reduce pollution and achieve economy in transport.

Office-bearers of the new organization said here at a press conference on Wednesday that the new outfit was being floated on the lines of the Indian National Ship Owners' Association (INSA) and would engage in creating awareness on issues related to maritime trade and undertake special studies and projects on the sector.

They said that ships could be deployed to carry cargo to minor ports in the State and quoted the example of how cargo from Kolkata or a Gujarat port could be transported using such vessels, which can reach Alappuzha or Kollam ports, which do not have deep draft.

This mode of transport will also reflect on the price of the commodities that are now brought to the State via road as water transport is cheaper and more environment-friendly.

Deployment of river-sea vessels can result in 20 per cent reduction in fuel usage and help develop hinterland areas close to minor ports.

General secretary of the new organization A. M. James, vice-president Johnson K. Mathew and treasurer N. J. Thomas were among those who participated in the press conference.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2697100.ece

‘Human chain' to exceed 200 km

The Left Democratic Front will organise a 208-km ‘human chain' from Mullaperiyar to Kochi at 4 p.m. on December 8 to highlight the issues pertaining to the Mullaperiyar dam.

LDF leaders will address public meetings at 38 locations along the route. Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan and LDF convener Vaikom Viswan will address meetings in Ernakulam.

A trial of the event will be held at 3.45 p.m. prior to the formation of the chain between 4 p.m. and 4.15 p.m. The human chain will not disrupt traffic, CPI(M) district secretary M.V. Govindan said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

He accused the State and Union governments of adopting a lackadaisical attitude in resolving the issue while lakhs of people living downstream of the old dam, weakened by recent earthquakes, were apprehensive of their safety. Social activists and film personalities would join the event, he said.
The chain will stretch 132 km in Idukki district and 76 km in Ernakulam district.

P.Rajeev, MP, LDF district convenor George Edapparathy, and CPI district secretary Mundakkayam Sadasivanwere present at the press conference.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2697085.ece

Ham radio operators to meet in Kochi

It's time for Old Men and Young Ladies to come together. And the best OM and YL, as male and female operators of Amateur Radios are called, are coming over to the city for the HamFest 2011.

The national meeting will be held at Gokulam Convention Centre on Saturday and Sunday and already more than 700 delegates from across the world have confirmed their participation, giving an indication of the success of the event.

“The event is meant for hams across the world to get together and exchange their views. This being an open field with immense potential for experimenting and innovation, sharing of information is vital,” said K.G. Girish Babu, CEO of Technopark and the chairman of the organising committee.

Members of the Royal Omani Radio Society and Germany Amateur Radio Club are among the foreign delegates who will be participating in the sessions. Exhibitions on state-of-the-art equipment available and classes on new technologies will also mark the fest.

The HamFest started in Kuttikanam in 1990 and has toured different parts of the country since then.

During disasters

Amateur Radio is relevant in contemporary context as it will be the only stable medium for communication during disasters.

“A ham radio user in Thrissur was the first to know about the Chernobyl tragedy. We were also active during the Kuwait invasion, by passing on information and relaying messages between embassies. Even during natural disasters, amateur radios can function even when mobile and landlines or other radio frequencies fail to connect,” said Mr. Babu.

The reach and lack of privacy ensures self-discipline among users, stopping them from making derogatory or seditious broadcasts.
“Another significance of this year's meet is that a benchmarking on standards of the event will be finalised here,” he said.

Old machines

Even in an age when technology has made deep penetrations into personal lives, ardent amateur radio users stick to their machines.

“We will be honouring senior-most hams, some of them aged more than 80 years and holding licence since 1964, at the event.

In fact, the senior most member of our community will be inaugurating the meeting,” said Easwaran, who is one of the organisers.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2697052.ece

159 cases of property tax evasion detected

Property tax evasion was detected in 159 cases when buildings located in two segments of city roads were inspected.

Two special squads formed by the Kochi Corporation inspected the MG Road-Cochin Shipyard segment and Edapally bypass area, C.A. Thajudeen, Revenue Officer of the corporation informed the Corporation Council meeting on Wednesday.

The details regarding the tax evasion were revealed when Deputy Mayor B. Bhadra, who chaired the session, directed the official to share with the council the details of evasions. It is estimated that the defaulters owe the corporation around Rs. 5 crore as building tax from these cases. Notices were issued to the defaulters in these cases. Some of the tax defaulters have paid Rs. 50 lakh following the issue of the notice, he said.

According to the list that was presented in the council, a prominent hospital in Edappally was the biggest tax defaulter detected so far. The hospital owes the Kochi Corporation Rs. 9.5 crore as property tax. A hotel in Vyttila owed the civic body Rs. 1.2 crore. Of the 800 mobile telephone towers erected in the city, 600 were found illegally set up. The corporation collected Rs. 49 crore as property tax till November this fiscal against the Rs. 18 crore that was collected during the past year, Mr. Thajudeen informed the council.

The detailed list of the defaulters will be placed before the council shortly, Ms. Bhadra informed the council.

The corporation has deferred the decision to evict the encroachments in Fort Kochi beach and adjoining areas to the second week of January.

The District Collector had directed the Secretary of the Kochi Corporation to evict the encroachers. K.J. Sohan, chairman of the Town Planning Standing Committee of the corporation, said that unauthorised shops and structures in the heritage zone should be removed. A few traders who were rehabilitated by the civic body in shops in the area had sold them to outsiders. Several big shops have come up in the area. The corporation should not promote illegal shops and structures, he said.

The council has also decided to remove the bunk shops that have come up on Park Avenue near Rajendra Maidan. In a resolution, the council also urged the Railway authorities to start Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit trains in Kerala and roll back its decision to withdraw the service.

Unauthorised hoardings

A meeting of the Town Planning Committee of the corporation, which was attended by Mayor Tony Chammany, has decided to remove all unauthorised hoardings in the city. The authorities will begin the drive from December 16, said a communication from the Mayor.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2697110.ece

Whatever happened to our coastal highway?
The proposed coastal highway connecting Vypeen and Munambam is hanging fire, as there is confusion over who will undertake its construction, the Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) or the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).:nuts:

When contacted, officials in both the GIDA and the NHAI said the file was not on their table. The proposed project aims to find a solution to the traffic congestion on the Vypeen-Munambam Road connecting NH17. Two years after it was announced in 2006, FACT Engineering and Design Organisation (FEDO) submitted the draft alignment study for the proposed 23.5 km coastal highway to GIDA, the implementing agency. According to GIDA deputy planning officer Meena Kumari, the NHAI took over the project last year.

"Even after completing the alignment work and submitting the report for approval, we did not receive any communication from them. Last year, we were intimated that the NHAI had taken up the project and will execute it by including it in the seventh phase of its projects," she said. While GIDA has washed their hands off the project, the NHAI authorities said it was the local administration that was delaying it.

"We can take it up only if we get central government permission. For this, the local administration and the state government should submit a proposal, which they have not done so far," said CT Abraham, project director, NHAI. Meanwhile, S Sarma, Vypeen MLA and former fisheries minister, said the NHAI had rejected the proposal submitted by the government as the project cost of Rs 150 crore exceeded project ratio norms.

"NHAI had asked the state government to revise the project cost and resubmit the file. As of now, the government has not done anything in this regard," he said.

ToI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Whatever-happened-to-our-coastal-highway/articleshow/11026927.cms)

I would like to know about the ongoing and upcoming construction projects in kochi... Can anyone plzzzzzz help me??

I would like to know about the ongoing and upcoming construction projects in kochi... Can anyone plzzzzzz help me??

Are you talking about real estate?

Illegal homestays to face strict action

In the wake of mushrooming illegal home stays, the district administration has decided to take strict action against unauthorised homestays in the district, especially those in West Kochi region.

The decision was taken at a meeting of homestay entrepreneurs, representatives of Kerala State Homestay and Tourism Association (HATS) and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), held at Fort Kochi on Monday. Also, the district Collector Sheik Pareeth attended the meeting. “A committee comprising representatives of district administration, Revenue Department, police and DTPC will verify and sanction applications for homestay once in a month,” Pareeth said.

The ‘City Express’ in November had reported on the mushrooming of illegal homestays and the atrocities faced by the foreigners at such facilities. The police had conducted raids in certain homestays, which were functioning illegally. After the raids, the Kerala HATS, a consortium of homestay providers and tourism promoters for the effective co-ordination of tourism activities, launched an awareness campaign among entrepreneurs to ensure transparent functioning of homestays in Kochi.

It has been decided that no unauthorised homestay would be allowed to function in and around city. The entrepreneurs, who have not obtained licence so far, have been given time to get it before January. DTPC, local bodies and the police would provide assistance to get the clearances required to open a homestay facility,” said Pareeth.

As per the statistics available with the Kerala HATS, while, there are only 65 authorised and classified homestays in Kochi, the number of unauthorised homestays is more than 300. Homestays can be classified into diamond, gold, and silver. A classified homestay is listed and marketed by the Department of Tourism.

Owners of classified homestays maintain all requisite parameters while unauthorised ones do nothing and run them as their wish. There was a general feeling that any one can run a an accommodation facility under the name homestay only with police clearance certificate (PCC).

Now, the entrepreneurs have to run their facility under the definition of homestay, serviced villa, inn or lodge. It is a very good move on the part of the district administration,” said M P Sivadathan, director, Kerala HATS.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Illegal-homestays-to-face-strict-action/341174.html

Yes, it is an unacceptable practice. It is rampant at all tourist hotspots. The shop guys have their own reasons for this.

1. People come to the BurkhinoFasan speciality restaurant and after reviewing the menu card for half an hour, ask "Don't you have porotta and beef fry"?

2. Local Loafers get in, buy a glass of "Kanakatawa Kooler" and spend the day ogling the madammas

3. Locals pay zero or insignificant tips.

MNC Companies expands in Chennai Surroundings
List of MNC Companies according to 2011 was around 200 in Tamil Nadu alone. Now all these major companies are looking to expand their business only in Chennai and its surrounding areas like Sriperambudhur in Kancheepuram district. These Multinational Corporation are looking for a better connectivity than any other thing else. That is the only reason for the manufacturing giants are setting their plants in Chennai. You can see the companies like Nokia, Honda are expanding their investment always.

MNC companies are not interested to prefer the Destinations like Coimbatore and Madurai as they lack the availability of port which is very useful for the purpose of export and transport. Chennai is crowded and saturated already with its high population. Government tried to establish Tidel Parks in other tier two cities, but the MNC companies are very interested only near by Chennai or in Kochi.

Big Companies like Motorola, Saint Globin, Hyundai are also looking to increase their production capacity from Chennai as it is very easy for them to market to the south Asian countries. In Coimbatore and other parts of Tamil Nadu, there are only few MNC companies if you take into account. If this situation has to be changed, it is very much in the hands of the Tamil Nadu Government to give them favors to establish their expanding plants in Coimbatore, Trichy or Madurai. By this atleast these cities and small towns could see some MNC’s in 2012.

Source (http://www.theindianews.in/tamil-nadu-mnc-companies-expands-in-chennai-surroundings/)

Yes, it is an unacceptable practice. It is rampant at all tourist hotspots. The shop guys have their own reasons for this.

1. People come to the BurkhinoFasan speciality restaurant and after reviewing the menu card for half an hour, ask "Don't you have porotta and beef fry"?

2. Local Loafers get in, buy a glass of "Kanakatawa Kooler" and spend the day ogling the madammas

3. Locals pay zero or insignificant tips.

These practices are only against "LOCALS", not all the people living nearby. I've been many of those eateries without any incident as told here. If you are genuine, you needn't worry :)

Frenchwindow

I really don't understand the logic and statements of your mails till now!!! Sorry, if its my mistake.....

Most of your mails appear to be too Utopian, some even resemblances when Stalin meets Mao infused into VS kind of one....

Sorry for the remarks, but need to wake up to reality....

What kind of apartheid are you talking upon? If an average Malayalee have money, and like Tuscani Lasagne with red wine over it, no issue for having it.... No one has put a board outside Malayalees, Kochinites and Dog not allowed over any hotel in Fort Kochi.....

Please don't assume things....

We love you here, for a valuable post, but this, I am sorry......

^^

“Colonialistukalum Prathikriya vadikalum Thammilulla andardhara sajeevamayirunnu ennu venam karuthan”

^^

“Colonialistukalum Prathikriya vadikalum Thammilulla andardhara sajeevamayirunnu ennu venam karuthan” :rofl:

Onnum Manasilavunilla..IPyum Fort Kochiyumaye end bandham..

തങ്കളം - കാക്കനാട് നാലുവരി പാത അട്ടിമറിക്കാന്* നീക്കം

കോതമംഗലം: നിര്*ദിഷ്ട തങ്കളം - കാക്കനാട് നാലുവരി പാതയെ മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ - കാക്കനാട് നാലുവരി പാതയായി ബന്ധിപ്പിച്ച് നിര്*മാണം ആരംഭിക്കാന്* രാഷ്ട്രീയ നീക്കം നടക്കുന്നതായി റിപ്പോര്*ട്ട്. അലൈന്*മെന്റുകള്* പൂര്*ത്തീകരിച്ച തങ്കളം - കാക്കനാട് പാത കടന്നുപോകുന്ന ഉള്*നാടന്* ഗ്രാമങ്ങള്*ക്ക് ഇത് തിരിച്ചടിയാകും.

കോതമംഗലം, പെരുമ്പാവൂര്*, കുന്നത്തുനാട്, തൃപ്പൂണിത്തുറ എന്നീ നാലു നിയോജകമണ്ഡലങ്ങളെ കൂട്ടിയിണക്കി കോതമംഗലം നിയോജകമണ്ഡലത്തിലെ തങ്കളത്ത് നിന്ന് ആരംഭിച്ച് ഗ്രാമപ്രദേശങ്ങളായ ചെറുവട്ടൂര്*, ചിറപ്പടി, കീഴില്ലം, മനയ്ക്കകടവ്, കിഴക്കമ്പലം, പള്ളിക്കര എന്നീ പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലൂടെ കടന്ന് കാക്കനാട് എത്തും വിധം നാലുവരി പാത 29 കിലോമീറ്റര്* ദൂരത്തില്* നിര്*മാണം പൂര്*ത്തിയാക്കാന്* 2004-ല്* സാറ്റ്ലൈറ്റ് സര്*വേ പൂര്*ത്തിയാക്കി പാതയ്ക്കായി കാലുകള്* വരെ സ്ഥാപിച്ചിരുന്നു.

എന്നാല്*, ഈ സര്*വെയിലെ ചില അപാകത ഒഴിവാക്കുന്നതിനായി പൊതുമരാമത്തുവകുപ്പ് ഇവിടെ റീ സര്*വേ നടത്തുകയും 2009 സെപ്റ്റംബറില്* പാതയുടെ അലൈന്*മെന്റ് പൂര്*ത്തിയാക്കി സര്*ക്കാര്* അംഗീകരം നല്*കിയിരുന്നു.

ഇതേ തുടര്*ന്ന് 2010-ലെ ബജറ്റില്* 20 കോടി രൂപ വകയിരുത്തുകയും ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.പാത കടന്നുപോകുന്ന ഭാഗങ്ങളില്* ഭൂമി ഏറ്റെടുത്ത് നിര്*മാണം ആരംഭിക്കാന്* നടപടിയും പൂര്*ത്തീകരിച്ചിരുന്നു. എന്നാല്*, കോതമംഗലം നിയോജകമണ്ഡലത്തിലെ ചെറുവട്ടൂര്*, ചിറപ്പടി പ്രദേശത്തും കുന്നത്തുനാട് നിയോജകമണ്ഡലത്തിലെ കിഴക്കമ്പലം ഭാഗത്തും പാതയുടെ അലൈന്*മെന്റില്* ചില തര്*ക്കങ്ങള്* ഉണ്ടായതിനെ തുടര്*ന്ന് നാട്ടുകാര്* റീ സര്*വേ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുകയും സര്*വെയ്ക്ക് എത്തിയ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥരെ നാട്ടുകാരില്* ചിലര്* തടയുകയും ചെയ്തു.

ഇതുമൂലം ഇവിടെയുള്ള സര്*വേ ജോലികള്* പൂര്*ത്തിയാക്കാന്* കഴിയാതെ വന്നു. ഇതേ തുടര്*ന്ന് കോതമംഗലം, കുന്നത്തുനാട് എംഎല്*എമാര്* ഇടപെട്ട് പ്രശ്നം പരിഹരിക്കാന്* ശ്രമങ്ങള്* നടത്തിയിരുന്നു.പാതയ്ക്കായി എട്ടുമീറ്റര്* വീതിയില്* സൌജന്യ ഭൂമി എന്നുള്ള പൊതുമരാമത്ത് വകുപ്പിന്റെ ആവശ്യം ജനങ്ങളില്* പലരും നിരാകരിച്ചിരുന്നു.

50 സെന്റില്* താഴെ ഭൂമിയുള്ള ഇടത്തരം കുടുംബങ്ങള്*ക്ക് ഭൂമി വിട്ടുകൊടുക്കുമ്പോള്* മാര്*ക്കറ്റ് വില നല്*കണമെന്ന ആവശ്യം ഉയര്*ന്നിരുന്നു. ഇതേ തുടര്*ന്ന് തങ്കളം - കാക്കനാട് നാലുവരി പാതയുടെ നിര്*മാണ ജോലികള്* അവതാളത്തിലായി.

നിര്*ദിഷ്ട പാത തങ്കളത്തുനിന്നും ചെറുവട്ടൂര്* വരെ എത്തിച്ച് ചെറുവട്ടൂര്* വഴി എറണാകുളം - മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ റോഡില്* കൂട്ടിയോജിപ്പിച്ച് നിര്*ദിഷ്ട കാക്കനാട് നാലുവരി പാതയുമായി ബന്ധിപ്പിച്ച് നിര്*മാണം ആരംഭിക്കാന്* അണിയറ നീക്കം നടന്നിരുന്നു. നിലവിലെ അലൈന്*മെന്റുകള്* പ്രകാരം ഉള്ളതിലും അഞ്ചു കിലോമീറ്റര്* അധികം ദൂരം ഇതോടെ കൂടുകയും ചെയ്യും.

നിര്*ദിഷ്ട തങ്കളം - കാക്കനാട് നാലുവരി പാത 29 കിലോമീറ്റര്* ദൈര്*ഘ്യത്തിലാണ് സര്*വേ പൂര്*ത്തിയാക്കിയത്. മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ - കാക്കനാട് പാതയുമായി ബന്ധിപ്പിക്കുമ്പോള്* ദൂരം 34 കിലോമീറ്ററായി വര്*ധിക്കും. ആദ്യം നിശ്ചയിച്ചതില്* നിന്നും മാറി പാത നിര്*മിക്കുമ്പോള്* പാത കടന്നുപോകുന്ന ഉള്*നാടന്* ഗ്രാമപ്രദേശങ്ങളുടെ വികസന മുന്നേറ്റങ്ങള്*ക്ക് വന്* തിരിച്ചടിയാകുമെന്ന ആശങ്ക ശക്തമാവുകയും ഇതിനെതിരെ ജനങ്ങള്*ക്കിടയില്* പ്രതിഷേധവും വ്യാപകമായിട്ടുണ്ട്.

നിര്*ദിഷ്ട പാതയുടെ അലൈന്*മെന്റില്* മാറ്റം വരുത്തുമ്പോള്* കോതമംഗലം - മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ നിയോജകമണ്ഡലങ്ങളേക്കാള്* നഷ്ടം ഉണ്ടാവുന്നത് കുന്നത്തുനാട് നിയോജകമണ്ഡലത്തിനാണത്രേ. പാതയുടെ ഏകദേശം 70 ശമാനത്തോളം കടന്നുപോകുന്ന ഈ മണ്ഡലത്തിലൂടെയാണ്. ഇതു കുന്നത്തുനാട് മണ്ഡലത്തിലെ ഗ്രാമപ്രദേശങ്ങള്*ക്ക് തിരിച്ചടിയാവും. ഇതിനെ മറികടന്ന് തങ്കളം - കാക്കനാട് പാതയെ മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ - കാക്കനാട് പാതയുമായി ബന്ധിപ്പിച്ച് നിര്*മാണം പൂര്*ത്തിയാക്കാന്* കഴിയുമെന്നാണ് പൊതുമരാമത്ത് വകുപ്പിന്റെ കണക്കുകൂട്ടുന്നത്.

മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ - കാക്കനാട് പാത നിര്*മാണത്തിന് നീക്കം ആരംഭിച്ചിട്ട് ഒരു വര്*ഷമേ ആയുള്ളു. തങ്കളം - കാക്കനാട് പാതയുടെ സാറ്റലൈറ്റ് സര്*വേ 2004-ല്* പൂര്*ത്തിയാതാണ്. പാതയ്ക്കുവേണ്ടി 2010- ല്* അനുവദിച്ച 20 കോടി രൂപ ചെലവഴിക്കുന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് കൃത്യമായ വിവരങ്ങള്* ഇതുവരെ ലഭ്യമല്ലത്രേ. പാതയ്ക്കായി ഭൂമി ഏറ്റെടുത്ത് നിര്*മാണം ആരംഭിച്ചത് എവിടെയെല്ലാമാണെന്ന് അവ്യക്തമാണ്.

നിര്*ദിഷ്ട പാത കുന്നത്തുനാടു വഴി കടന്നുപോകുമ്പോള്* നിര്*മാണ ചെലവ് ഏറുമെന്ന് കാണിച്ചാണ് അലൈന്*മെന്റ് മാറ്റിയത്. മലകളും താഴ്ന്ന പ്രദേശങ്ങളും കൂടുതല്* പാലങ്ങളും ഏറെയുള്ളതിനാല്* നിര്*മാണ ചെലവ് ഏറുമെന്നാണ് അധികൃതരുടെ കണക്കുകൂട്ടല്*. പാതയുടെ അലൈന്*മെന്റ് മാറുന്നതോടെ കിലോമീറ്റര്* കൂടുന്നതല്ലാതെ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ച പ്രയോജനം കിഴക്കന്* മലയോര പ്രദേശമായ കോതമംഗലം ഉള്*പ്പെടെയുള്ള പ്രദേശങ്ങള്*ക്ക് ലഭിക്കാതാവും.പാതയുടെ നിര്*മാണത്തെച്ചൊല്ലി വരും ദിവസങ്ങളില്* ശക്തമായ പ്രതിഷേധസമരങ്ങള്* ഉണ്ടാകാനിടയുണ്ട്.

http://malayalam.deepikaglobal.com/cat1_sub.asp?subcatcode=KL7

kothamangalam-kakkanad ..this highway if materialized will connect Ernakulam to kothamangalam in around 42kms(currently 55kms appx)

kakkanad-muvattupuzha route can be through infopark-morakkala-mazhuvannur-mudavoor. :| or better, straighten NH49 from irimpanam to muvattupuzha.
why sabotage a good highway project which may reduce kochi-munnar distance as well as connects kothamangalam.

perumbavoor-pukkattupady-ernakulam route atleast should be widened and straightened.. better connectivity to Kochi is more of a right for towns like Perumbavoor which is integral part of aluva(vazhakulam-perumbavur-pukkattupady) industrial belt.

The 3D route to conjunctivitis

Non-sterilised glasses in theatres

Enjoying a 3D movie with 3D glasses may transport you so near to all the action you see. But there are chances that you contract conjunctivitis, if the 3D glasses provided are not properly cleaned and sterilised after every use.

Ophthalmologists say that some cases have been reported in this manner. Rameez N. Hussain of the Department of Vitreo Retinal Surgery at Giridhar Eye Institute said that that over the last three weeks, at least five such cases had been noticed.

He said that he queried his patients when one of them mentioned that she contracted conjunctivitis from her brother who had gone for a 3D film.

Contagious

Since it was a contagious viral infection, if one got the disease, the whole family might be affected.

Ideally, 3D glasses should be wiped with alcohol swabs or should be exposed to ultraviolet light to sterilise them, said Dr. Hussain.

“When one uses a glass worn by an infected person without sterilising it, the virus finds another host. Such cases have been reported in Mumbai and Chennai as well,” said Dr. Hussain.

Public health issue

S.J. Saikumar, general secretary of the Kerala Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons, said that the society was planning to write to the Corporation authorities to invite their attention to the public health issue.

The authorities should make sure that the theatres followed the norms and provided sterilised 3D glasses to film-goers.

The 3D movies were a relatively new phenomenon in the country and perhaps the Health authorities might not have issued any guidelines to theatre owners on 3D glasses, said Dr. Saikumar.

The popularity of 3D films had caught on here and the Civic and Health authorities should issue some guidelines in this regard, he said.

‘Take precautions'

Ophthalmologist N.S.D. Raju of Ranjini Eye Hospital here said though presently conjunctivitis was not an epidemic, a precautionary measure should be sounded. On a working day, out of every hundred patients reporting at the out-patient wing, 2-3 persons report with the infection.

The 3D route of contracting the disease could become a public menace, he said.

Mostly allergy cases

The cases reported were mostly allergy conjunctivitis, though a few cases of viral conjunctivitis too were reported, said Anita Jebbar of Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly.

Out of the 10-15 cases of conjunctivitis reported in an OP of 80 patients, about 2-3 could be viral conjunctivitis. Though the history of the disease was not investigated, the 3D glasses were a probable route if not handled properly, said Dr. Jebbar.

See an ophthalmologist

Personal hygiene is most important in limiting the infection from spreading. Though the disease is self-limiting, it is advised that patients consult an ophthalmologist before using eye drops. As long as the eyes are red, patients should avoid touching eyes, giving hand shakes and sharing towels. They may also use dark glasses to avoid touching eyes.

Cleaning hands is most important to limit the spread of infection. Patients are advised to take rest for at least three to four dayshttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2703354.ece

Fire fighters have no equipment

Are our fire fighters equipped to rescue people trapped on high rises? Even if the authorities claim that the Fire and Rescue Department has modern gadgets, the ground reality is that the department faces shortage of basic fire fighting machines in city.

According to sources, the Ernakulam fire fighters don’t have skylift to rescue and evacuate people trapped in the topmost floor. “The fact is that we even have a shortage of hydrants to fix the fires. Owing to the lack of skylifts, we still use ladders. There are no bleaching set to clear oxygen and exhaust machines to clear smoke from the buildings on fire. Moreover, the heavy vehicles of the department cannot be taken to congested areas,” sources said.

According to Joe Kuruvilla, senior officer of the department, the proposals for skylift and other new equipment have been sent to the higher officials. “We have sent the proposals for the skylift and a meeting has been called next week. The unit will be modernised soon,” Joe Kuruvilla said.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Fire-fighters-have-no-equipment/341881.html

Anti-mosquito squad swings into action

The Kochi Corporation launched the operation of the Anti-Mosquito Squad on Friday with a demonstration of the use of fogging machines. As per the scheme, 25 trained specialists will go to the interior areas of the city every day to wipe out the mosquito menace.

The special squad is equipped with cycles to move through the city. Earlier, fogging machines were fitted on autorickshaws and other motor vehicles making movement into narrow lanes difficult. The cycles and hand fogging machines are expected to help overcome the hurdle.

Fogging will be done in the evening and at night. Each machine will use 11 litres of diesel and perform fogging for a period of one-and-a-half hours every day. This is expected to consume 275 litres of diesel. “This is more economical than the centralised fogging which costs about 294 litres of diesel,” Health Standing Committee Chairman T K Ashraf said.

In the first phase of the project, 25 cycles and hand fogging machines were distributed.

As of now, the Kochi Corporation is divided into 25 circles, each being served with a squad member. In the second phase, 45 fogging machines will be used.

The Anti-Mosquito Squad is part of the Clean City Project launched by the Kochi Corporation. The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has sponsored the bicycles for the scheme.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/anti-mosquito-squad-swings-into-action/341914.html