Kerala - Kochi   

Pandemonium in Corporation council

Staff Reporter

Twenty-four UDF councillors arrested

VOCIFEROUS PROTEST: The police taking away women councillors of the Kochi Corporation on Wednesday. - Photo: VipinChandran

KOCHI: Twenty-four UDF councillors were arrested on Wednesday on charges of "obstructing the sergeant of the Corporation from delivering his duties". The arrested were later released on bail.

The UDF councillors threw open the doors of the council hall, when the council was in progress, and let in camera crew of TV channels. This was against the directive of the Mayor not to allow TV camera crew inside the council hall, said Corporation secretary V. Raju.

Mr. Raju said that a complaint was filed with the police against Youth Congress activists for forcefully entering the council hall, destroying the flag post and pouring dirty water on the car of the Mayor.

The sergeant of the Corporation complained that he was prevented from discharging his duties, he said. Those arrested included six women councillors.

The arrest was following a complaint filed by the Mayor, alleged A.B. Sabu, UDF leader in the Corporation.

Mr. Sabu warned of dire consequences if the civic administration intended to carry on with its undemocratic style of functioning and ignored the burning issues of the residents of Kochi.

He said a district committee meeting of the UDF, which will be held tomorrow, would chart out the course of action.

The front may call for a hartal in the city in protest against the failure of the civic authorities in clearing garbage. It was also contemplating to lay siege to the Corporation office, Mr. Sabu said.

The UDF councillors earlier walked out of the council meeting in protest against the inability of the civic administration in complying with the High Court order for dumping waste at the site acquired by the Corporation at Brahmapuram.

Mayor Mercy Williams informed the council that the anti-mosquito drive would be intensified in the city.

The Corporation would acquire three more fogging machines and use the 21 machines in its possession for the mosquito control operations.

"Machines will be deployed at all the divisions and directive has been issued to implement mosquito control measures with immediate effect," said Ms. Williams.

M. Anilkumar, K.M. Hamsakunju, E.M. Sunilkumar, V.J. Hyscinth and K.G. Dineshan were among those who took part in the discussion.

Merchants' demand

A delegation of the Ernakulam Merchants Union today met the civic authorities demanding steps for removal of waste from the Ernakulam market.

The functioning of the stalls in the market had been affected following the delay in removing waste. The traders also formed an action council to press their demands.

Meanwhile, the Corporation officials said that steps for removing waste from the market would be undertaken soon.

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