Kochi: Keeping decibels in check
Last year, the sound decibels at Pallimukku and Kundanoor Junctions recorded 106 decibels, nearly double the permissible levels. KOCHI: Last year, the sound decibels at Pallimukku and Kundanoor Junctions
New Indian Express (Kochi)
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Solar City on the beam
The Corporation will soon entrust ICLEI South Asia, a consultancy agency, to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Solar City project. The proposal to award the DPR preparation to ICLEI will be presented at the first Council meeting after the Corporation Budget session on Saturday. Once the Council gives its nod, the agency will be awarded with the work which is expected to be completed in three months. The estimated cost for DPR preparation is `10 lakh.
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Ground reality of water crisis
Understanding the immediate need to address the issue of decreasing ground water levels in parts of the district, the Ground Water Department is taking active steps to spread awareness about ground water conservation. The ground water resource estimation committee report prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources jointly by the Centre and state government has identified Paravur, Parakkadavu and Vyttila, which includes Maradu and Kumbalam blocks, as semi critical areas in terms of fall in ground water levels in Ernakulam district.
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Greens come in support of endosulfan victims
Environmentalists in the city have urged the state government to take immediate steps to save the life of Mohan Kumar who is on a hunger strike at the High Court Junction demanding a comprehensive compensation package for victims of endosulfan in Kasargod district. Inaugurating a protest meeting at the High Court junction, environmentalist M K Prasad said the government could not back track from the responsibility of providing protection to the victims.
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Fort Kochi going thirsty
The onslaught of drought and the alleged shortage of pumping time have put the residents of Fort Kochi in dire straits with the area reeling under acute water shortage for the past few weeks. The situation has worsened during the past few days, said Fort Kochi councillor Antony Kureethara, who presented the issue at the Corporation Council. The irregularity in pumping time was the reason behind the acute water shortage in areas like Chirattapalam, Pattalam and Kunnumpuram, the councillor said. “Currently, water is only being pumped for one-and-a-half hours each in the morning and evening. Most of the time, sufficient water is not pumped, thanks to load shedding. Despite frequent reminders to the Kerala Water Authority officials, the situation remains unsolved,” he said.
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Kochi Corporation peps up Solar City Project
The Kochi Corporation will soon entrust an agency with the preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for the Solar City project which aims at making Kochi the first solar city in the state. The civic body had already invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) from the agencies that will undertake the DPR preparation. “We expect to award the work by this month. The Solar City project is implemented with the financial aid mainly from the Central Government. The DPR preparation, which is expected to cost `10 lakh, and the fund for this will be fully provided by the centre.
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War again on plastic menace
As part of its Green City mission for the year 2013, the Corporation is planning to relaunch its plan to impose a ban on plastic below 50 microns. Though the civic body had launched a similar initiative last year following the High court order, it failed to implement the plan successfully. Learning from the past experience, the authorities are planning to organise a one-month-long campaign before bringing into effect the plastic ban from February 15.
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Poorna river turning a dumpyard
The Poorna river, passing through Tripunithura, has become a dumpyard of organic, toilet and slaughter house wastes. Sensing the environmental damages caused by the pollutants, the Balagokulam Kochi Mahanagaram members have come forward against the practice on the river on which the ‘Thoni Ezhunelipu’ ritual, held as part of Poornathrayeesha temple fest, is being conducted. “The ‘Thonni Kadavu’, situated in the western part of the river, is the most affected area. Sewage from Kochi Corporation and Tripunithura Municipal area are being directed to the ‘Kadavu’. This spoils the sanctity of the river,” said K G Sreekumar, district president of Balagokulam Kochi Mahanagaram.
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Eco hurdles ahead for direct road to Parambikulam
A direct road to Parambikulam through Kerala is unlikely to get the necessary clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests owing to the opposition from the environmentalists in Tamil Nadu,
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Land acquisition: HC flays disparity in compensation
Coming down heavily on the state the Kerala High Court on Monday held that there is no uniformity in the matter of land acquisition and granting of compensation to land owners in various projects.
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Facebook to promote water conservation
Efforts by the Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), under the Department of Water Resources, to make Kerala a water-friendly society have entered the virtual world. A Facebook page ‘Hai