The Kozhikode Municipal Council meeting on Friday saw some tense moments when Mayor A.K. Premajam’s comments on the condition of the public crematorium on Mavoor Road in an interview to a private television channel sparked a debate.
The Mayor had allegedly commented that the crematorium was functioning well, which the Opposition claimed was far from the truth.
Councillor P. Kishenchand said the crematorium had not been functioning properly for at least a year.
The councillors made some objectionable comments against the Mayor and asked her to step down.
Rehabilitation
A calling attention motion by Kavita Arun demanding rehabilitation package for those displaced for building a road in Kommeri ward also sparked debate.
The Opposition councillors opposed the stand of the Public Works Standing Committee Chairman M. Mohanan that rehabilitation was State government’s responsibility.
The Council unanimously passed an adjournment motion brought in by Mr. Kishenchand about the proposed trawling ban of 61 days being imposed by the Union government.
Mr. Kishenchand said trawling control was State government’s responsibility and that the Centre was intruding into unwanted matters.
Foreign firms
He said the Centre was opening up the coast of the country to foreign shipping companies, who were now allowed to ply ships as close as 12 nautical miles from the coast. The proposed trawling ban, which is in addition to the usual ban imposed by the State, would put the fishing community in dire straits and destroy the fisheries industry.
‘Repeal order’
The motion was passed with an amendment brought in by V.K. Mohandas that the Centre should repeal the order that fishermen should carry their passports while going into the sea.
The Council decided to urge the State government to strengthen its move against the trawling ban.
