Chronicle of Kochi gathering dust at corporation

KOCHI: On the Independence Day of the millennium year, the Kochi Corporation  published a compendium on the city. The book, which traces the geographical, historical and cultural journeys of the city, was a contribution of people associated with the city’s growth during various stages. Today, after more than 11 years, hundreds of copies of the book  worth lakhs of taxpayers’ money, lie rotting in the corporation’s godown.“It was meant to be an insight on Kochi city. We had tried to get people from every sphere of Kochi’s development, like the first mayor of the city, the first chairman, the early drama artistes of the city etc. In cases, where people were unable to bring written articles, we went to their homes, took notes and wrote articles. The book had accounts on Fort Kochi, the growth of the Kochi Corporation, the GCDA etc. There were also rare pictures of different places in the city. The book was the contribution of some of the best minds that made Kochi city what it is today,” said activist and writer M K Sanu, who was also the chief editor of the book.The sale of the books never happened. Year after year, the books were shifted from one room of the corporation to another. Some of the copies have been thrown near the corporation parking space as they were rendered unusable owing to damage and termite attack. “The books cost `10,70,059 in 2000. Noting that the books have not been sold, the Department of Local Fund Audit sent notices to the then-Mayor and secretary of the corporation for misappropriation of funds. Now, there is no space to keep the books,” said an employee of  the Department of Local Fund Audit.