Tue Sep 16 15:58:50 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article version of the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Kozhikode Corporation Council made several key decisions in an emergency meeting. They approved the acquisition of land for a playground in Payyanakkal, fulfilling a 40-year-old demand, despite opposition concerns about encroachment. They also greenlit land acquisition for road development to a Corporation apartment complex and for widening a junction to accommodate a vegetable market. Heated debate arose regarding the engagement of an event management team for the proposed annual ‘Kozhikode Shopping Festival.’ Finally, the council made decisions related to AMRUT 2.0 projects, including funding for CRZ permits and seeking state government assistance to cover tender excesses for a sewage treatment plant.

**News Article:**

**Kozhikode Corporation Approves Playground, Road Projects Amidst Debate on Shopping Festival**

**Kozhikode, September 16, 2025 (The Hindu)** – The Kozhikode Corporation Council convened an emergency meeting Tuesday, greenlighting several significant infrastructure projects and sparking debate over the management of a proposed shopping festival.

After four decades, residents of Payyanakkal can finally look forward to a playground as the Council approved the acquisition of 1.63 acres of land for ₹12.97 crore. Funding will be reallocated from the Corporation’s miscellaneous expenses budget. However, opposition councillors raised concerns regarding potential encroachments on the land.

The Council also approved land acquisition for road development serving the Corporation’s Kalluthankadavu apartment complex, housing relocated slum dwellers, and for widening the Kalluthankadavu junction to facilitate a new vegetable market.

A key point of contention arose over the ‘Kozhikode Shopping Festival,’ envisioned as an annual event. Opposition councillors questioned the need to hire an external event management team, suggesting the Council and its officials could manage the festival effectively. Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed defended the decision, emphasizing the importance of a professional approach. The matter remains subject to further discussion.

The Council also addressed several projects under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme. They approved the remittance of ₹10 lakh for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) permits for the West Hill sewage treatment plant (STP) and ₹4 lakh for the development of Lions Park. A funding shortfall of ₹14.41 crore for the STP near Sarovaram Biopark, to be constructed by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), will be addressed by seeking assistance from the State government, following approval from the AMRUT State-level technical committee. The KWA has been instructed to operate within the allocated ₹164.2 crore budget under the Design, Build, Operate, and Transfer model.

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