The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is in its 125th year, has decided to choose the cleanest ward in Kochi Corporation every month and to reward it with a prize of ₹20,000. The cleanest ward would be chosen every month by a team of judges comprising the Mayor, District Collector, District Police Chief, a member of the Green Kochi Mission, and a member of the Chamber, said Chamber president Vikas Agarwal. In the first of the series, Karuvelippadi (Ward 10) was chosen the cleanest.
Mr. Agarwal said the century-old chamber building was renovated recently to accommodate the present requirements. Mayor M. Anilkumar inaugurated the renovated building and lauded the role played by the Chamber in the public affairs of the city.
Mr. Agarwal said the Chamber stood by the theme of ‘Heritage, Help and Health’ and the focus on the renovation of the 100-year-old building was part of the programme. He said the restoration of the building was a challenge and hence had to be done with clarity on design, durability, dexterity and deadlines. Both tradition and innovation had been combined to give the Chamber building a new look, he said.
He recalled that the building that housed the Chamber office used to be a residential unit that was acquired in the 1960s. The Chamber represents the glory of Mattancherry as the hub of trading activities, especially in spices. It was called the Indian Chamber because it had members from all across India, he said.
The aim of the clean ward programme was to create competition among the 74 wards in the Corporation area and it was a first-of-its-kind programme, he added.
