Kottayam may get corporation status by next year

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: The Kottayam Municipality will be upgraded to municipal corporation status with an aim to improve the infrastructure and quality of life, said sources from the municipality.

As per Census 2011, Kottayam comes under Class I Urban Agglomerations/Towns with a population of 3,57,533. An urban agglomeration constitutes a central town and the adjoining outgrowths linked by continuous urban area.

State Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali said the new municipal corporation will be officially declared by next month and the corporation status will be bestowed just before the panchayat elections next year.

Town Planning Officer Shiji Chandran explained, "The regions with 75 per cent of the male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits will be eligible to join the urban agglomeration."

The proposed municipal corporation will assimilate 12 neighbouring panchayats including Thiruvarppu, Panachikkad, Vijayapuram, Manarcad, Ayarkunnam, Athirampuzha and Ettumanoor with the existing municipal limits.

Also eastern fringes of Ayimanam and Arpookkara Panchayats and northern parts of Puthuppally, Meenadom and Pampadi will also be included. Nattakom and Kumaranelloor panchayats were added last year.

But, Vijayapuram Panchayat President Baiju Cherukottayil alleged, "The move is aimed at to annexing the panchayat to control the Vadavathoor dumping yard as municipality wishes."

Kottayam municipal waste was being dumped at Vadavathoor in Vijayapuram Panchayat until Dec 31 last year, when the local people shut down the yard. However, the panchayat officials doubt the town representatives may colonise their locality and open the dumping yard.

However, Municipal Chairman MP Santhosh Kumar dismissed the allegations and clarified, "The corporation status will provide us with central funds under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns for solid-waste management, which will be used for the improvement of the dumping yard." 

Also, Kottayam Medical College and Mahatma Gandhi University will be under the jurisdiction of the corporation, he added.

Eco-friendly Vegetable Market yields less profit

By Sachin Jose

IN VAIN: The Eco-friendly Vegetable Market has only a few takers.

KOTTAYAM: The municipality's decision to move the vendors at the Old Market to the Kodimatha Eco-friendly Vegetable Market has proved to be a gaffe as they claim to be running on loss.

     The building at Old Market was demolished two years ago and the shopkeepers were shifted in order to build a parking space to reduce the traffic snarls in the town. However, there are fewer takers at Kodimatha as it is situated at the outskirts compared to the old one in the heart of the town.

    CH Enterprises owner C Habeeb said, "We were making profit at the Old Market, but here people hardly come as it is at one remote corner of the town. Three of our fellow shopkeepers has left as they couldn't afford the rent."

     Also, MAB Vegetables employee Joby Joseph pointed out, "Two wholesale shops are still running at Old Market and customers go there due to proximity. Unless and until they come here, we shall not benefit."

     But, NN Khaleel, one of the remaining wholesalers at the Old Market, retorted those at the Kodimatha market are unwilling to let him along with another one to join them as they fear of losing business further. "We are ready to shift if the municipality is able to provide us with the same facilties we have now."

     However, Municipal Chairman MP Santhosh Kumar clarified that some of them have falsely claimed to be running on loss as an excuse of not paying the rent. "At present, the business is idle as the bus services are terminated along the road linking Kodimatha and Market Junction due to construction. Once the bus services are rescheduled, the dip in the influx of customers will be levelled."

     PWD Executive Engineer Vincent George the road construction will be completed "soon," but refused to go into further details.

Police officers transferred in view of elections

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: In view of general elections on April 10, the State Election Commission has issued certain norms including transfer of police officers, posted in their respective districts, to other districts.

     Of 15 Circle Inspectors in the district, 13 have been transferred. And of 42 Station House Officers of Sub-Inspector rank, 28 have been transferred.

     State Election Commissioner K Sasidharan Nair said, "The officers posted in their own district are being transferred to other stations or departments in order to hold a free and fair election.

     "According to norms, all public servants including police officers are not supposed to attend public meetings during election period."

     Superintendent of Police MP Dinesh said, "Though polling booths in the district does not come under vulnerable or inaccessible category, more forces will be recruited from other states and Central Reserve Police Force to maintain security."

     Mr Dinesh added that they the election has also ordered arrest of those on warrant in order to maintain peaceful election, but they may get out on bail and retain their eligibility to vote.

    Kottayam East CI Rejo P Joseph was transferred to Crime Branch and was replaced by Perumbavoor Rural CI V Roy. Kottayam West CI AJ Thomas has been transferred to Vigilance Department replaced by Panthalam CI Zachariah Mathew.

    Mr Thomas said, "I have been here from Jan 2010, it's difficult to leave my colleagues with whom I have achieved many milestones in career including the successful Operation Gurukulam."

    Mr Mathew said, "It will take him about two weeks to acquaint with the town as he is new here. When I came here to take charge Saturday last, I was confused between Central and Aida Junctions."

    Also, Pampadi SI U Sreejith was posted at Kottayam East replacing SI KP Thomson, who has been stationed at Pala. And West SI Anoop Jose has been transferred to Chengannur in Alappuzha District, replaced by Gandhinagar SI Jiju TR.

Nutimix allegedly unhealthy for infants

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: The Amrutham Nutrimix powder, advertised as a complete balanced nutritive food for children, is unhealthy for those below two years as it lacks antibiotics recommended for standard baby foods, said Paediatrician Dr Thomas Kurien.

    The powder is produced by Kudumbashree Mission under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) under State Social Welfare Department.

     It is distributed to the beneficiaries through anganwadi and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers in the locality. It is a powder mix of ragi, wheat, sugar and soyabean.

     Dr Kurien said, "Amrutham powder is susceptible to fungal contamination and may result in indigestion and diarrhoea. Nevertheless, in order to contain fungal growth, adding preservatives is not advisable as it can cause long-term illness including asthma and allergy."

   However, Kudumbashree Vice-chairperson Indulekha Appukuttan said, "Amrutham has undergone scientific test and was approved by doctors." She mentioned that Institute of Child Health Neonatologist Dr C Jayakumar as one of the doctors who recommend Amrutham Nutrimix for children.

     But when contacted, Dr Jayakumar replied otherwise."It's an utter lie, I had always spoken against the use of supplementary food including Cerelac, Lactogen and Farex. Apart from mother's milk, children under two years should be given only boiled food cooked at home."

    However, Kudumbashree District Vice-Coordinator Ramesh P said, "Amruthum products have undergone quality monitoring and formulation as prescribed by a statutory medical board formed under the Kudumbashree Mission.