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Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Opposition alleges anomalies in Kochi corporation voters' list
Kochi: Opposition councillors alleged that migrant workers arriving in the city for contract work were being widely added to the corporation's voters' lists. It was found that in divisions like Mundamveli and Manassery, many such workers were included in the list, they said. "In Mundamveli East, 34 residents were added to the list under house number 2903, although only three people reside there. According to K Smart records, 34 voters are listed in a house measuring 505 sq ft. Locals said there are only three people living in the house and they are unsure about the identity of the remaining 31 people, who appear to be from outside the state. Additionally, it is understood that there are 85 voters from house numbers 2253 and 2253 A. One of these houses, which the K Smart record says is 481.15 sq ft, remains closed with the owner staying abroad for months," said Antony Kureethra, opposition leader in the corporation. "Authorities should clarify whether these individuals were deliberately added to these house numbers or included by mistake. The migrant workers employed by companies for various construction contracts were also added to the voters' list," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Become Fluent in Any Language Talkpal AI Install Now Undo There are also complaints that votes of 385 residents from Gandhinagar division were included in Girinagar division. Votes from areas like P&T Colony and Udaya Colony in Gandhinagar were included in Girinagar. "Residents of P&T Colony were relocated to apartments in Mundamveli East division, but for some their votes remain in the Gandhinagar division," said M G Aristotle, secretary, UDF parliamentary party in the city corporation. Additionally, there was information that migrant workers were being locally added to the lists in other divisions, Kureethra said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Kochi corporation's pothole-filling machine remains unused amid road woes
Kochi: Despite navigating through city roads remaining a challenge for commuters, the pothole-filling machine purchased by Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) for Kochi corporation has been sitting unused in its yard for two months. The contractor responsible for the machine claims the machine was no longer needed because they have already filled the total area of potholes specified in the agreement. The corporation is bound to pay around Rs 1 crore as operation and maintenance cost of the machine for one year. "Most of the city roads are damaged. But the machine, which was procured by CSML by spending crores of rupees, is not available for filling potholes. Despite several councillors seeking the machine for filling potholes in their areas, the authorities fail to respond," said Antony Kureethra, corporation opposition leader. "Many roads in the city, like SA Road and KK Road and roads in Thoppumpady and Fort Kochi areas, are in a pathetic condition. Still, the authorities are unable to avail of the pothole-filling machine for repair works for the past two months," Kureethra added. The corporation authorities, meanwhile, cite that the total area of potholes to be repaired within a year was already over. "So, the contractor has shifted the machine to the CSML yard at Kalamassery. The issue is that the machine is lying idle at a time when it is most needed," said works standing committee chairperson Seena. "The private firm which is entrusted with the operation of the machine has not signed an agreement with the corporation. However, the private firm and CSML have signed the agreement. It is the corporation which has to give operation and maintenance costs every year, however it doesn't have any role in the operation of the machine," she said. "As per an explanation given by mayor M Anilkumar, many councillors availed the machine for relaying roads, whereas the use of the machine should have been limited to pothole filling. The relaying of roads should have been done by other contractors using paving machines. Excessive and unnecessary use of pothole-filling machines resulted in exceeding the set total area to be filled even while many roads remain pothole-ridden," she added. Opposition councillors also alleged that the silt pusher brought for desilting drains has become a significant liability for the civic body. "Despite spending crores to purchase silt pusher, officials report that it is ineffective in removing silt. Due to the lack of progress, new contracts have been awarded for desilting the drains. Not only is the machine unable to alleviate waterlogging, but it also incurs substantial operational and maintenance costs. A bill over Rs 5 lakh was given for removing approximately 502 cubic metres of silt in 63 hours. Thus, the corporation had to give Rs 1,016 per cubic metre. In contrast, the municipality pays only Rs 247 per cubic metre while private contractors are deployed through tender processes," Kureethra said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kochi corporation faces heat over missing building data in K-Smart portal
Kochi: Of the 2.5 lakh building permits assessed within Kochi city limits, data related to nearly 50,000 buildings is missing from the Kochi Corporation's database—a serious issue that has disrupted tax payments and licence renewals for many property owners. So far, over 1,450 building owners have lodged formal complaints with the civic body. Corporation officials said efforts are underway to physically verify missing records and minimize inconvenience to the public. The issue primarily stems from the time when TCS was managing the e-governance programme. After the contract was scrapped due to delays and payment disputes, the private firm withheld data, including critical building permit details. Opposition councillors blame the situation on the administration's failure to spot discrepancies during the software transition. "Thousands of building numbers were omitted from the e-portal. The owners only realize this when they try to pay tax. We suspect the actual number could be higher than 50,000," said Antony Kureethra, leader of the opposition. MG Aristotle, secretary of the UDF parliamentary party and member of the finance committee, pointed out that according to Section 240 of municipal rules, building numbers can only be omitted after clearing tax dues and restoration requires permission from the regional joint director. "When the transition from Sanchaya software to K-Smart took place, tens of thousands of buildings were left out. People only discover the issue when they attempt to make payments," said Aristotle, adding that the corporation still lacks clarity on the total number of missing records. Officials have considered assigning sub-numbers to the omitted buildings, but this creates legal complications, especially when the original numbers are mentioned in title deeds and official documents. A senior official maintained that data pertaining to most buildings are now available with K-Smart. However, he failed to give the exact numbers but took credit for reinforcing the stalled e-governance project in corporation limits. "When we assumed power in 2020, the e-governance project was delayed by a decade. At a time when even the Kuttampuzha panchayat, which is located in the remote area of the district, issued e-birth certificates and marriage certificates, people had to stand in queue in front of the Kochi corporation office to register birth, death, marriage, etc and get certificates," he said. "Tiding over all the crises during the tenure of the previous two councils, we gathered data, roped in IKM, and implemented the e-governance project by 2022. Now, all our services are available through K-Smart," the official added.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Streetlight woes continue in Kochi city
Kochi: Despite claims that the LED streetlight project in Kochi is nearing completion, several parts of the city continue to remain in darkness, with both new and old streetlights lying dysfunctional for months. While the Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) is implementing the project, the lack of timely repairs and poor inter-agency coordination have left many residents frustrated. The Rs 40-crore LED project aims to replace all existing streetlights within the corporation limits with energy-efficient LED lamps to improve illumination and reduce electricity bills. Initially scheduled for completion in Dec 2023, the deadline was extended to Dec 2024. CSML now claims that the major implementation work will be completed by the end of July 2025. However, on the ground, lighting failures persist across multiple areas—both where new lights were installed and where old ones remain unreplaced. According to residents and councillors, maintenance has been poor, and repairs often take months. CSML blames the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for not cooperating, particularly when it comes to power connections and maintenance support. "I've been raising the issue of defunct streetlights on the Ponnurunni overbridge for over a year and a half," said RTI activist TN Prathapan. "Despite notifying the corporation, CSML, and even the LSG minister, the area remains unlit. A fatal accident involving a father and son happened here, and poor lighting was a factor." Councillors have raised similar concerns with the corporation and CSML. "In many areas like Manappattipparambu Road, Girinagar, Fort Kochi, Eravely, Karippalam, Mattancherry, Moolamkuzhy, Edakochi and Palluruthy, streetlights are not functioning. CSML keeps citing lack of KSEB support," said Antony Kureethra, opposition leader in Kochi Corporation. UDF parliamentary party secretary MG Aristotle pointed out that the project was expected to slash electricity bills. "Earlier, before switching over to LED lights, the monthly bill was Rs 1.5 crore. In April 2025, it was Rs 1.24 crore and in May and June, Rs 1.33 crore and Rs 1.29 crore, respectively. The goal was a 40% reduction," he said. Public figure CICC Jayachandran added that lights in even key areas like MG Road and SA Road have not been functioning. "After I raised the issue, the mayor intervened and got some lights repaired on SA Road," he said. CSML officials said they will focus on repairs next month. "As of now, our aim is to complete the project. We've procured 1,500 smart meters, of which 850 are installed. Once fully operational, they will help streamline maintenance and reduce electricity costs," an official said.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kochi corporation's mobile food testing lab remains non-operational
Kochi: Kochi corporation's mobile lab intended to check food adulteration remains dysfunctional for the past one-and-half years due to various reasons, including lack of competent officials to collect and test food samples. Recently, three persons who had food from a restaurant in Pallimukku were admitted to hospital due to food poisoning. "The incidents of food adulteration are increasing day by day. The corporation authorities are not taking any steps to make the mobile lab, procured using CSR funds, operational," said UDF parliamentary party secretary in Kochi corporation M G Aristotle. At a meeting held on Jan 8, 2024, corporation authorities had decided to constitute a special team to operate the facility. It was also decided to conduct the operations of the lab at least thrice a week. Another decision was to seek the support of officials with the food safety department to conduct the tests once a week. "But the decisions were not implemented. We are demanding that the corporation authorities should take steps to make the facility operational at the earliest," said Antony Kureethra, opposition leader in the corporation. "The decision to appoint an analyst to collect the food samples has not been implemented yet," he added. According to corporation officials, lack of cooperation from food safety department has hindered making the facility operational. "Corporation officials lack the competence to test the food samples. That is why we seek the cooperation of food safety department officials. But they are not supporting us," a corporation official said. "We held talks with the food safety commissioner and the department has agreed to provide their staff once a week. We have conducted an interview to appoint an analyst. So, we expect that the mobile lab can be operational without much delay," said health standing committee chairman T K Asharaf. However, officials with the food safety department in the district said that they have not received any instructions from the department headquarters to provide its staff to conduct tests on behalf of the corporation. "We are short staffed and can't spare our officials. Moreover, we are conducting regular inspections to check food adulteration," an official with the food safety department said.
