While Kochi is on a high after the Union Cabinet issued its nod for the Kochi Metro Rail, agitations are also on the rise against the project.
On Wednesday, the Vyttila-Petta Road agitation committee blocked the Public Works Department (PWD) officials, who were carrying out land survey for acquisition, at Vyttila junction. The agitators pointed out that the survey is being carried out without any official confirmation about the road alignment. Following the protests, the team of PWD officials comprising executive engineer Hashim, Tripunithura section assistant engineer Aniroopa and overseer Joy returned without undertaking the survey.
The land owners on Banerjee Road and MG Road who had to surrender land for metro rail-related infrastructure projects have seemingly softened their stand with the Union Cabinet granting its final nod for the city’s dream project on Tuesday.
Having earlier taken a stiff stand that they would approach the courts, the land owners climbed down and said that they were waiting for a discussion with the Chief Minister.
The much-awaited nod for the proposed Kochi Metro Rail project is likely to be given by the Union Cabibnet on Tuesday.
The project is expected to provide reliable, safe, energy-efficient, comfortable, affordable, and non-polluting rail-based mass transit system for Kochiites, who have to grapple with jammed roads every day. The value of the project at ‘current cost’, which was approved by the Cabinet, is pegged at `5,126 crore.
In a big boost to infrastructure-starved Kerala, the Centre on Tuesday cleared a Rs 5,182-crore metro rail project for Kochi, the state’s commercial nerve-centre.
The authority has recommended that the Kochi Corporation could approach the Department of Social Forestry to monitor and implement the compensatory afforestation programme.
The Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority (KSCZMA) has directed the Kochi Corporation to submit a proposal for a large-scale afforestation programme to compensate the loss of about 16,000 square metre of coastal regulation zone (CRZ) area for its sewage treatment plant (STP) at Mundamveli.
Authorisation for 10 local bodies had expired nearly a year ago
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is about to take legal action against the 10 local bodies in the district, including Kochi Corporation, for their failure to renew their authorisation under the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, for collection, segregation, transportation and suitable disposal of municipal waste.
It has been reported that the number of bird species found in the sanctuary has been reduced to nearly half in less than seven years.
Human interferences may be contributing to the dwindling number of birds arriving at Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary (MBS), said Forest Department officials. It has been reported that the number of bird species found in the sanctuary has been reduced to nearly half in less than seven years. A study carried out by P.S. Easa and E.A. Jayson of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur, in 1999, had recorded the presence of 72 species of birds from MBS.
Biometric cards for fishing workers will be distributed in three months.
Minister for Fisheries and Excise K. Babu has said that projects worth Rs. 650 crore will be implemented this year for the development of fisheries sector. The projects will be implemented in association with the Fisheries department, Coastal Areas Development Corporation, Matsyafed, and Fishermen’s Welfare Fund Board, he said. He was talking after inaugurating the valedictory session of the State-level leadership camp of the Kerala Pradesh Matsya Thozhilali Congress here on Saturday.
