An MoU will be signed between the Municipality and Atkins, a UK based firm, on behalf of Britain’s Prince Charles and officials of the High Commissioner’s office on Monday. It is learnt that the MoU will assess various risk factors of the city including flood and climate change.

Atkins is a UK-based leading global design, engineering and project management consultant.

The Burj Al Arab, support for the London 2012 Olympics Park, Xi’an Xianyang International Airport terminal in China and the Kochi’s very own Lulu Mall are just few of the infrastructure marvels Atkins has assisted.

According to a official communication, the MoU will mark the participation of Kochi in the ‘Future Cities project’. Aluva Municipality councillor Jebi Mather, who is coordinating the royal visit in the municipality, said that the MoU is the result of a series of discussions held between the local body and the UK government for a while now.

“Aluva is one of the oldest municipalities in India. The coming of the Metro rail has given the municipality a facelift. However, be it climate changes or flood-related atrocities, risk assessment remains a major challenge for the municipality. During the recent floods, which destroyed many areas in the municipality, we remained helpless in abetting dangers. This will be a crucial area that will be addressed in the MoU,” said Jebi.

Incidentally, during a flood in 1920s, the then British Municipal Chairman was instrumental in opening rehabilitation centres and managing other disaster management operations when a major flood ravaged Aluva.

Both the local body officials and High Commissioner’s office were tight lipped on the future prospects of the project. “All further details will be released on Monday,” they said.