Shopkeepers in the city rejoice. The Corporation council has decided to convene a special meeting to review the steep hike in their annual licence fee, which had come as a huge blow to them.

Responding to the plea by several councillors to reconsider the decision on the fee hike, the mayor Mr Tony Chammany told the council on Wednesday that a special council meeting would be held soon to look into the issue. “But before that we will call a meeting with the merchants’ union representatives to discuss the matter and reach a consensus,” he said.

Earlier councillor Mr N.K. Sunil Kumar said the corporation should urge the state government to review the notification issued for hiking the licence fee.

He was joined by works committee chairperson, Soumini Jain and Mr.T.J Vinod of the Development Committee, who too felt government should be persuaded to reconsider.

In reply to other questions by councillors, the Mayor said the anti-mosquito drive would be intensified and strict action taken against officials who failed to implement it adequately.

A meeting of health inspectors would be convened soon to review the measures taken so far, he assured.

Several councillors pointed out that fogging and cleaning of drains was not being done effectively, although Rs. 2.5 lakh was given to each division for the purpose.

When councillor Thampi Subramaniam raised the isue of hospitals not accepting smart cards provided to poor families as part of the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, Mr. Chammany said the matter would be brought to the notice of the state government.

The Mayor also said a meeting would be held soon with top Kerala Water Authority officials to discuss the drinking water scarcity in the city. “A special meeting of the pension section will be convened to settle pending pension applications,” the mayor said.