Kerala - Kochi   

Reporter's Diary

THE CONSTRUCTION of stormwater drains at a frenzied pace in certain parts of Kochi is a conspicuous reminder that the financial year is just about to end and that the deadline for spending allotted funds is fast approaching .

And city folk who would have otherwise forgotten about this routine happening now have the civic authorities to thank for.

Barricaded roads, dug up with heaps of `metal' and sand strewn around have made parts of roads inaccessible for not just a day or two. The average road user could have ignored all this activity only at his peril and great inconvenience. But then, is it too much of a price to pay for something that we, city dwellers, almost take for granted - drains?

THE MALAYALAM film industry has shifted the setting of the ongoing tussle between the Film Chamber and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) from the city to the State capital.

Kochi was the venue for the controversial award nite that led to a rift in the industry. The city had also played host to secret parleys where warring factions chalked out their plan of action. Hectic discussions were held at the regional offices of the trade bodies to resolve the differences.

The city continued to remain in news, as it was the venue for the shooting of the majority of the films being readied for a Vishu release. Confusion prevailed following doubts about the release of these films. The Chamber decision not to halt production work on these films had brought relief to the producers.

With the Government intervening to solve the deadlock, the State capital would be the venue for the remaining half of the controversy that has all the ingredients of a potboiler.

By T. Ramachandran and G.Krishnakumar

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