Latest news with #ThrissurCorporation
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala's future generations will carry forward VS' politics: K.K. Rema
The political legacy of veteran Communist leader V.S. Achuthanandan will be embraced by future generations and carried across Kerala, K.K. Rema, MLA, has said. Speaking at a memorial meeting of VS organised by the Prof. M.N. Vijayan Memorial Committee in front of the Thrissur Corporation office, on Saturday, Ms. Rema alleged that the CPI(M) leadership conspired in the killing of her husband T.P. Chandrasekharan because he followed the politics VS championed, a politics of resistance and people's empowerment. 'Kerala's future generations will produce thousands of VSs. His politics will continue to be propagated from one generation to another,' she said. Veteran journalist M.P. Surendran, addressing the gathering, described VS as a political personality unmatched in Kerala's history. 'He upheld the politics of resistance in the face of social decay, and he always stood by the poor and the marginalised. His memory will forever ignite struggles across Kerala,' he said. The meeting was presided over by committee convener T.L. Santosh.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Pinarayi to inaugurate second edition of International Literature Festival on August 17
The second edition of the International Literature Festival of Kerala (ILFK), hosted by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, will begin on Sunday (August 17, 2025) on the akademi premises. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event at 10 a.m., with Culture Minister Saji Cherian presiding. During the ceremony, the akademi auditorium will be officially renamed 'Kerala Sahitya Akademi M.T. Auditorium' in honour of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair. Akademi president K. Satchidanandan will present the festival's thematic overview. Ministers K. Rajan, R. Bindu, MLA P. Balachandran, Thrissur Corporation Mayor M.K. Varghese, district panchayat president V.S. Prince, and District Collector Arjun Pandian will convey felicitations. The event will be preceded by a ceremonial flag-hoisting by writer Vaishakhan. Distinguished personalities from the socio-cultural sphere will attend. The five-day literary fiesta will feature discussions, lectures, author interactions, children's literary sessions, cultural performances, and plays across three venues, with over 70 sessions planned. International panel The international panel includes Palestinian poet-journalist Asma Azaizeh, Tibetan poet-activist Tenzin Tsundue, and Nepali poets Bhuwan Thapaliya and Amar Akash. Highlights of the evenings include an M.S. Baburaj musical tribute by Jayaraj Warrier, the play Poratt by Thrissur Panchami Theatres, dance performances by Thiruvananthapuram Guru Gopinath Natanagramam, and a traditional Marathukali performance by Rajeevan Panikkar Koyonkara and team. A special literary photography exhibition based on M.T.'s novels Manju and Naalukettu, curated by Manoj D. Vaikom at Thrissur Fine Arts College, will also be on display. Akademi library The festival will conclude on August 21 with Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal delivering the valedictory address, chaired by Mr. Pandian. The akademi library will be named 'Lalithambika Antharjanam Memorial Library' during the closing ceremony, followed by a keynote address by quiz master and orator G.S. Pradeep. Delegate registration will close on Saturday. Participants can register in person at the ILFK office in the akademi or online via The fee is ₹500 for the public and ₹250 for students and persons with disabilities.
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
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Roof sheet collapse: Congress files complaint with human rights panel
Leader of the Opposition in the Thrissur Corporation Rajan J. Pallan and deputy leader E.V. Sunilraj have lodged a formal complaint with the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), demanding legal action against officials responsible for the collapse of a roof sheet from a building owned by the Thrissur Corporation onto Municipal Office Road recently. The incident occurred on May 23, followed heavy rain and gusty wind. The metal roofing, installed atop a multi-storey building owned by the Corporation, had been in a dangerously unstable condition since April 22 due to a storm. Despite being aware of the risk, officials failed to take any preventive measures for over a month, the complainants alleged. No one was injured, but it was purely due to luck, the Opposition leaders stressed. Even 15 days after the incident, the LDF-led Corporation council has taken no action against those responsible, Mr. Pallan said. The official involved with the construction work is a known sympathiser of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], and hence the inaction, he added. 'Unsafe buildings' He further criticised the Corporation for not demolishing structurally unsafe buildings and accused the CPI(M) leadership of attempting to shield negligent officials. The Opposition warned that if such efforts continue, they would escalate protests both within and outside the council. 'We will not accept a Mayor or a ruling council that puts the lives of citizens at risk,' Mr. Pallan said.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Save Thrissur campaign launched against bid to block city's development
A 'Save Thrissur' public campaign has been launched alleging that a group of people, including real estate agents and certain officials linked to the Thrissur Corporation, are trying to torpedo development of the city. Congress councillor in the Corporation John Daniel, who initiated the campaign, accused this group with vested interests of deliberately helping to issue fake structural fitness certificates to aging and unsafe buildings in Thrissur city and surrounding areas to prevent their demolition. In a letter to the Mayor, Mr. Daniel demanded a Vigilance investigation into the alleged issuance of fake structural stability (fitness) certificates. According to the complaint, owners of dilapidated and unsafe buildings were illegally obtaining stability certificates — often without any scientific assessment. 'They are risking people's lives by issuing fitness certificates for buildings that are clearly unfit to occupy. One of the buildings near Swaraj Round, which collapsed recently, had allegedly received such a certificate, raising questions about the credibility of the process,' he noted. A list of 271 buildings identified as unsafe had been prepared during the tenure of the previous council, but many of these buildings were later certified as structurally stable, which stopped further action, Mr. Daniel pointed out. 'There is evidence that intermediaries are collecting large sums from building owners in exchange for fitness certificates.' He even accused the Mayor of concealing a structural report that had declared a Corporation-owned building at Ayyanthole — previously housing the family court — as unfit and recommended for demolition. Despite the warning, several businesses continued to operate from the premises, he said. The councillor alleged that these actions were part of a long-term attempt to reduce land value in the city by the land mafia. 'Their aim is to undermine the importance of Swaraj Round by shifting commercial and residential activity to the outskirts — a move that will benefit private real estate interests. ' He also questioned whether parts of the Corporation's Master Plan, including the Ring Road and mixed-use zone projects, were connected to this strategy. The letter demanding a Vigilance investigation into the misuse of structural stability certificates marks the first step of the 'Save Thrissur' campaign, he said. He said the movement would continue with further public action and legal steps to ensure accountability and to address the concerns about the city's stalled development.
