Mayor bats for turning old Corporation office into museum

Mayor M. Anilkumar has batted for converting the old Kochi Corporation office into a museum and has entrusted the Centre for Heritage, Education and Development (C-HeD) with preparing a plan to that effect while presiding over the council meeting on Monday.

However, he said that a final decision would be taken by the next elected governing committee. Mr. Anilkumar proposed that a section of the old office be allocated to C-HeD for its operations, while the remaining space could be combined and developed into a museum.

He suggested that the proposed museum be designed to introduce future generations to the city’s mayors and their contributions. He also mentioned that Cochin Shipyard Limited had approached the Corporation with a proposal for a museum showcasing the vessels built there.

The potential future use of the land and the old Corporation office now that the civic body has shifted to a modern headquarters near Marine Drive had earlier triggered a war of words between Hibi Eden, MP, and Mr. Anilkumar. Mr. Eden had demanded that the land housing the old Corporation building be handed over to the General Hospital, citing its proximity and other factors, while arguing that the building lacked heritage value warranting conversion into a museum.

Mr. Anilkumar responded that it was for the Corporation council to decide the fate of the building and land. He had challenged the MP’s remarks on the heritage value of the structure, saying that heritage was not confined to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry alone, and that every place had its own heritage.

C-HeD has also been tasked with preparing a renovation plan for Kokers Theatre complete with two screens, restaurants, and other amenities. Additionally, the council decided to honour the Haritha Karma Sena and sanitation workers for their significant contributions to waste management in Kochi.