Kochi wayside eateries are going to get a whole new look from now. Those ‘thattu-kadas’ which are abundant in Kochi will now be given a make-over. With Kochi Corporation distributing portable kiosks to street vendors, you can now munch on your favorite foods from a healthier and cleaner environment.  The project was inaugurated by Kochi’s Mayor Tony Chammany on the 16^th of November 2012.

This venture from the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP), along with the support of Kochi Corporation’s Health standing Committee will ensure better and cleaner food to Kochiites. With street vendor’s food being popular in Kochi, this initiative will truly become a blessing.

The vendors are trained scientifically in order to serve good, clean food. They will be using healthy oil, clean utensils and bacteria-free food for cooking. Each kiosk will also have a license adhered to them.

So looks like, Kochiites can dig on to some yummy and healthy food in the coming days.

Image Courtesy: The Hindu

The Mayor of Kochi city plays an inevitable and crucial role in the development of the city. He plans, orders and implements various attributes that facilitates in progress of Kochi. As citizens, we expect this government official to put forward his maximum for the city welfare. What can we expect, how will he implement them, what more is in store for Kochiites from the Mayor? If these are some of the questions that you have, then here is the chance for you to ask them to the Mayor.

CPRR and Chavara Cultural Centre are organizing an event where Kochiites can ask questions to the Mayor. This interactive session will be held on the 30^th of June 2012 at 3.00 p.m. ‘Role of the Mayor in the Development of the City’ is an event you wouldn’t want to miss.

Smt. Bhadra Satheesh, Dy Mayor, Kochi Corporation, Dr Thomas Isaac, MLA of Alappuzha Constituency, Sri. A.C Jose, Ex Speaker, Ex MP, Ex Mayor, Cochin Corporation will be some of the leading guests who would be attending the event. So responsible Kochiites, come and be a part of this big event.

Kochi Corporation is here with something new! The officials are ready to bring forth a health and welfare awareness programme in the city of Kochi. This programme was announced by Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany, and is all set to bear wings soon. It has been organized in co-operation with Kerala State Urban Development Project and an NGO. A programme which will benefit not only Kochiites, it shall also include migrants who have come from other parts of the country. From HIV, Narcotics and general health, it shall cover them all.

Several shows, campaigns and programmes will be conducted in and around the city of Kochi as part of this. From counseling, study classes and poster campaigns, there is much for Kochiites to explore through this. The programme will concentrate on the less trodden parts of the city, mainly colonies and slums.

This is a great initiative from the Corporation of Kochi. And kudos to the organizers for this innovative programme!

How would it look like if we adopted solar energy to run electricity, for daily use and more? We have heard, learnt in our textbooks and seen how solar energy has been implemented wisely. Looks like, Kochi is getting a chance to go solar! Our city might very soon be termed as a ‘Solar City’. From government offices, Kochi corporation office and more, the project would be started off in an experimental basis.

Street lights are quite expensive, and our Corporation spends nearly 3 crores (per year) to run them. So making them run on solar energy will be of immense help, and shall facilitate in cutting out the rates too. Using solar energy will help in saving electricity to a large extent (especially with its shortage at its peak).

If everything goes well, you could expect the electricity at your home being run on solar energy in the coming days. Let us wait and see to how well our authorities can implement this!

Garbage disposal in Kochi city has always been a cause for concern. And this issue has haunted Kochiites since the past many years. From environmentalists to government officials, people who are supposedly working for this cause are many. But nothing has been done which permanently deletes trash on public places, especially on main roads and near residential areas. With rains on a spree since the last few weeks, looks like Kochi is getting dirtier and only worse!

In spite of campaigns and awareness programmes being launched, we see that residents in the city seem to be turning their backs towards this issue. “It should all begin from the home. You must need to dispose your household garbage in a way which does not affect fellow citizens. Kochi is always messy when it rains, and garbage on the roads makes it impossible to walk on our streets. How about being more careful and disposing waste in a decent way which does not affect others?”, asks Saju Salam, a Kochiite who lives in Thevara.

Well, we know that this is an issue which has been discussed much. But we need to realize that blaming the Corporation and authorities alone does not help in the betterment of the situation. How about doing your bit to keep the city clean?

A fresh make-over to our very own Ernakulam Boat jetty! Doesn’t that idea sound nice? Well, looks like Kochi Corporation is going to work for the betterment of our boat jetty very soon. Lacking electricity and proper water supply, the boat jetty was in a bad condition since the past many years. The government and concerned officials have taken hardly any measures for improving its condition. From the flood of tourists to locals who commute everyday by waterways, the jetty has always remained a nightmare especially after dark.

Even though the officials plan to set up temporary electricity lights, including an additional high mass light at the entrance of the jetty, there is much in store this time. The Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) and Kerala Tourism officials are working towards the cause.

And if all goes well, Ernakulam boat jetty will be a decent halt to the many boats in Kochi backwaters.

Heard about Kochi’s latest make-over? And this time, public spaces in the city will look spanking new after the latest project being implemented. The initiative by Kochi Corporation will begin soon. And this time, we shall have experts working on this City Space Improvement Project. The detailed plan from the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA- Cochin Chapter) will determine when and where the project will be done.

The cost estimated for the project is 30 lakhs, and the civic body plans to implement the project in a public-private-participation (PPP) mode. With the support of agencies like the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Indian Industry, along with private companies like Inkel, the authorities plan to bring out the best from the project.

The IIA also plans to host a competition within its members, inviting entries with the best designs for their seven pilot projects. The basic plan will be launched by the 23^rd of April 2012.

Here is a summer camp for all the aspiring child actors out there! ‘A Centre for Theater’ is launching ‘Nadaka Kalari’, a theater camp which will be held at SRV High School on April 16^th. This 7 day camp will help the students get acquainted with theater performances and enhance their knowledge on acting. Nadaka Kalari is a part of the launch of ACT’s children’s wing named ‘Butterfly’. The event will be inaugurated by actor Nedumudi Venu. The camp is held in association with Kochi Corporation, Public Library and Tharangam Cultural Center.

Students from classes 4^th to 9^th can be a part of this event. And if you are one amongst the talented actors, you can be part of the play ‘Urumbukal’, which will be staged at the National Fest this year. Drama performed by the students and the production team will also be staged on the final day of the camp.

You have to pay a fee amount of 500 rupees (including food). For more details, contact Santosh at 94478 41916 or Ajayan at 91422 78691.

Summer is supposedly not at its peak yet, but Kochi is already smoldering! Water scarcity in the city is at its rise, and residents from certain parts of the city still find it hard to get drinking water. Outskirts of Kochi city need proper drinking supply at the earliest. The Kerala State Referral Institute for Water Quality, the District Health Department and Kochi Corporation are geared up to provide safe, healthy, quality water to Kochi residents.

Summer is a season when people fall prey to water-borne diseases, and you must be on extra vigil in order to avoid them. From the cool drinks that you sip on at your nearby shop, to the water provided at hotels, make sure you they are clean and hygienic!

Health Inspectors and officials from the health department are on their vigil as well to prevent water-borne diseases, which are at their rise this season. Hence way-side eateries and outlets are being kept on constant watch. But you need to always make sure that your health is not ‘taken for a ride’ this summer. Eat and drink safe!

Maybe topics like global warming and pollution does not fetch much relevance anymore. Maybe because they have been discussed and spoken about way too much. But we need to realize the fact that the way we have been dealing with trees and nature is definitely not the way it should be. Kochi has been lacking greens. With flats, multiplexes and huge buildings coming up in every nook and corner of the city, it certainly looks like we will have to bid goodbye to our lovely trees!

Deepa Radhakrishnan, a resident of Kochi says that the effects of lack of greens in our city would be long lasting. “It’s not just us, our future generations will also have to undergo the negative and harmful effects that’ll arise out of this. I think our officials need to be more vigilant and careful while dealing with such issues. The worst part is I see a lot of existing tress being cut down. Aren’t the concerned people seeing all this?”, says Deepa.

Hari KP, a dentist and a resident of Kochi says that unless strict laws come up, our trees are never safe. “No one really cares to plant a tree. But people easily destroy them. It’s unfair. Very soon, we might have to live in a city where there are no greens and only filled with pollution”, says Hari.

Planting tress is not easy, but people seem to be easily destroying them. Unless strict actions are taken, things will only get worse in the years to come.