The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Poor facilities dog Veli tourist village

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Poor facilities dog Veli tourist village

By S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 14 . Even as the Veli tourist village has emerged over the years as one of the favourite spots for picnickers from the city and neighbouring districts, the lakeside domestic tourist destination is bogged down by inadequate infrastructure and recreational facilities.

Ill-maintained toilets near the entrance of the village, the dilapidated boathouse and cafeteria, the water hyacinth-infested lake and plastic litter lying strewn along the lake near the floating bridge greet the visitors at the village.

Although the entrance of the road leading to the village from the Veli side is in a bad shape, the remaining stretch has been widened and resurfaced. The handrails of the floating bridge, constructed to connect the village with the adjacent Pozhikkara beach, have started corroding.

The children's park, set up a couple of years ago with several play equipment, has virtually disappeared. A handful of locals residing near the boundary of the village have installed motorised equipment for providing recreational facilities for children.

The 12 staff members who have been functioning as boat drivers for the past one year are still in the cadre of attendants, helpers and utility drivers. Sources said the staff had not been given promotion or increase in salary till now by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.

Boating is the only recreation being offered by Kerala Tourism to the visitors. At present, five speed, four safari and four pedal boats are in operation and the visitors have to wait for their turn for a leisure cruise in a boat of their choice, especially during holidays.

Kerala Tourism sources said over Rs. 24.5 lakhs was generated from boating alone at Veli during the last eight months and this was Rs. 7 lakhs more than the income during the corresponding period last year. However, the authorities have failed to provide the needed infrastructure and facilities commensurate with the earnings.

A proposal to restrict the entry to the tourist village by introducing tickets is under the active consideration, according to a senior Tourism official. A fence is being built to prevent unauthorised entry into the village. Speed, safari, pedal, row boats and inflated boats fitted with engines worth Rs. 50 lakhs would be introduced as part of providing more facilities for those interested in water sports. Tenders have been given for the purchase of the boats and already three boat jetties had been set up, he said.

The work on a new floating restaurant, being constructed near the youth hostel at an estimated cost of Rs. 80 lakhs, had begun. The existing walkway from near the boat jetty to the floating bridge would be extended so that the visitors could go to Pozhikkara beach without using the existing floating bridge, the official added.

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