Mayors’ council seeks creation of metropolitan planning committee -OxBig News Network

Thrissur emerged as the epicentre of the State’s urban planning dialogue as the All-Kerala Mayors’ Council convened here on Tuesday to tackle the mounting challenges of city development amid rapid urbanisation.

Mayors demanded creation of a metropolitan planning committee (MPC), highlighting its essential role in guiding modern urban development initiatives across the State.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the Mayors stressed that the MPC should be initially set up in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, key metropolitan hubs in the State, to formulate strategic plans aligned with the evolving needs of growing cities. They argued that the absence of such a body hampered the ability to create sustainable, forward-looking urban infrastructure.

The Mayors raised several demands, including the need for the government to recognise all bills submitted on March 24 as part of the current year’s Budget, without deferring any to the following year’s queue. They also called for allocation of essential posts to Kollam and Kannur Corporations to strengthen administrative capabilities.

The council urged the government to allow corporations to recruit for critical roles, such as Finance Manager, Town Planner, Legal Advisor, IT Manager, Mechanical Engineer, and Electrical Engineer, on a one-year basis.

They also demanded implementation of recommendations from the Kerala Urban Commission, including the removal of the requirement for DPC (District Planning Committee) approval for projects funded through corporation funds.

Further, the Mayors advocated for the freedom of corporations to secure loans from banks without placing any financial liability on the government. They also highlighted the need for additional staff to support zero-waste initiatives.

Interacting with mediapersons, M. Anilkumar, president of the Mayors’ Council and Mayor of Kochi, and Mayors M.K. Varghese (Thrissur), Honey Benjamin (Kollam), Beena Philip (Kozhikode), and Muslih Madathil (Kannur), reiterated the need for robust urban policies to shape State’s future cities.

Mayors visited Thrissur Corporation’s ambitious projects, including the Skyway project and the Peechi Floating Pump.