Latest news with #M.K.Varghese
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Deputy Mayor inaugurates renovated Aristo Road amid LDF boycott
The inauguration of the renovated Aristo Road turned controversial on Wednesday after Deputy Mayor M.L. Rosy went ahead with the function despite a boycott by Mayor M.K. Varghese and key members of the ruling LDF council. Though the LDF leadership, including the Mayor and Standing Committee Chairman Varghese Kandamkulathy, abstained from the event, the Deputy Mayor delivered the inaugural address and symbolically opened the newly completed road . In her speech, Ms. Rosy hit out at the politicisation of development work, stating that infrastructure projects should not become battlegrounds for party politics. She credited councillors Leela Varghese and Sindhu Anto Chacko for their sincere efforts in making the Aristo Road a reality, noting that multiple protests had been carried out both inside and outside the council to push the project forward. She further alleged that the Mayor's office is being run by temporary staff. Opposition leader Rajan J. Pallan accused the LDF of deliberately trying to hijack the inauguration and turn it into an LDF-only event, sidelining the efforts of other councillors. He claimed that Ms. Varghese and Ms. Chacko had informed the Mayor about the inauguration schedule and had officially handed over the event notice at his chamber.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates Water Efficient Thrissur (WET) project
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the government is moving forward with comprehensive plans to ensure access to safe drinking water in all local self-government institutions across the State. He was speaking after inaugurating the Water Efficient Thrissur (WET) project here on Monday, which aims to resolve the drinking water issues within the Thrissur Corporation limits. The Chief Minister highlighted that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the State has already provided clean drinking water to 55% of rural households, with over 50% household connections completed in seven districts. The State has set a target of 100 litres per person per day, and by March, 115 panchayats and nine assembly constituencies had achieved full coverage. Noting the unpredictable weather over of Kerala, the CM stressed the importance of protecting water sources, warning that pollution in these bodies pose a serious challenge to ecological restoration efforts. 'Through the 'Ini njan ozhukatte' (Let Me Flow Again) campaign, over 92,000 km of canals, 412 km of rivers, and 29,000 ponds have been cleaned. Thousands of new ponds and both temporary and permanent check dams have been constructed as part of the effort,' the CM said. To combat landslides and soil erosion in the Western Ghats, the State also undertook stream mapping and launched the 'Let's Secure the Western Ghats' campaign to protect these ecologically sensitive regions, he said. The CM urged local self-governments to actively identify and restore polluted water sources to avoid the kind of severe droughts experienced in many Indian metropolises. Thrissur Mayor M.K. Varghese presided over the function. Revenue Minister K. Rajan launched the online and spot billing system, praising the Corporation's efficiency in handling both power and water supply, making it a model for the State. As part of the WET project, 9,000 households in the Ollur zone have already been equipped with pipelines. The water is sourced from Peechi Dam, treated, and stored in an overhead tank at Thekkinkadu Maidan, before being distributed to 18,500 consumers. The entire system is digitally monitored in real-time, allowing immediate detection of leaks, illegal usage, or supply disruptions. The ₹5.59 crore project was completed under the AMRUT scheme and implemented by ULCCS (Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society). The Corporation is planning WET 2.0, which includes the installation of 4,000 smart meters and an online water quality monitoring system under AMRUT 2.0.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Thrissur Corporation cracks down on unsafe buildings
The Thrissur Corporation is taking a firm stance on dangerous and structurally unsafe buildings within city limits. Buildings, housing and commercial establishments that have repeatedly ignored notices and failed to produce stability certificates will now face strict action, according to Mayor M.K. Varghese. Despite being issued multiple warnings, several building owners have not complied with safety norms, prompting the corporation to act. Mayor Varghese publicly announced that there will be no more dialogue — only action — when it comes to unsafe structures. Demolition begins The demolition of the Manorama Building near Swaraj Round has already begun. The Corporation and the District Disaster Management Authority are taking the action under the provisions of the National Disaster Management Act. More such demolitions are expected soon as the corporation plans to expand this effort across the city. Out of 227 identified old buildings, decisions have already been made regarding 144. The process will take place in three phases, the Mayor said. The first phase will focus on buildings considered to be in the most critical condition. Corporation is taking action as owners and business operators have not taken steps to ensure the safety of these buildings, the Mayor said. Even some of the Corporation-owned buildings are found to be unsafe. Urgent safety measures initiated for those buildings, Mayor Varghese confirmed.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Thrissur city to be lit up with 50,000 LED lights
In a major infrastructure upgrade, Thrissur city will be fully illuminated with 50,000 LED street lights as part of the 'Light for Night Life' project within six months. Inaugurating the project at a function here on Friday, Revenue Minister K. Rajan said the transformation marks a significant milestone in Thrissur's journey toward becoming a modern metropolitan city. 'Over the past nine years, Thrissur has made model advancements in sanitation, beautification, and public safety. This lighting project is yet another step in that direction,' he said. Under the project, outdated street lights will be replaced with modern, energy-efficient LED lights across all 55 divisions within the Corporation limits. A digital survey will be done to assess lighting requirements area-wise and will install high-mast and mini-mast lights in addition to standard LED units. Mayor M.K. Varghese presided over the function.
