KOCHI: Neighbouring local bodies of Kochi city have come out strongly against the draft masterplan for the greater Kochi agglomeration area being prepared by the state Town Planning Department in consultation with Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the City Corporation.
They point out serious errors in classification of zones and that people’s concerns were not taken into consideration.
The draft plan mainly concentrates on development concepts, strategic planning, development proposals for the city and classification of the entire greater Kochi area into various zones and rules and regulations.
The agglomeration area includes five neighbouring municipalities of Kochi City, Tripunithura, Aluva, Kalamassery, Eloor, Maradu and Thrikkakkara, and 11 gramapanchayats.
Eloor municipality authorities have decided to submit a request to the state chief town planner to freeze publication of the final masterplan.
“Most of the areas in Eloor have been marked as M2, which is the hazardous chemical industries zone. Classification of the areas as M2 will have serious consequences as it would pave the way for more chemical industries to set up units in Eloor.
Local residents are apprehensive over the unscientific classification of areas as Eloor is already a toxic hotspot,” said S. Shaji, municipal councillor.
Activists of the Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi (PMVS) an NGO campaigning against industrial pollution and conservation of river Periyar remarked that classification of Eloor as a hazardous industrial zone without conducting a public hearing or scientific studies, would have serious consequences.
Meanwhile, top sources at GCDA told DC that the apprehensions of the Eloor residents were baseless as industrial zone status alone would not bring in any new chemical industries.
