Fuming at the power centres who exert pressure on her to go soft on violations, Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain has threatened to expose them. Responding to the fire outbreak at Broadway, Ms. Jain said there had been attempts in the past to make her soft-pedal actions against violations.
“I used to receive such calls from politicians, senior government functionaries and even from power centres outside the State. I have not bowed to such pressures. If it continues, I will be forced to name them and to expose them,” said Ms. Jain.
The trading community in Kochi has not been cooperating fully with the civic administration in the enforcement of safety laws. A large number of traders threw safety norms to the wind while running business units. By such acts, they were jeopardising the lives of people around them, she said.
Speaking to mediapersons from Broadway, Ms. Jain criticised the traders for encroaching upon roads and violating laws. A meeting of chairpersons of standing committees and senior officials of the Corporation will be convened on Tuesday.