Kerala - Kochi   

Project for mangrove belt in Kumbalangi

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MAY 30. A project to plant different varieties of mangrove saplings on a large-scale in and around Kumbalangi, the first model tourism village in the country, is set to take off.

The scheme to form a mangrove belt in the area got an impetus after Itoop Kochery, an environmentalist, came up with a project to plan mangrove saplings. "The panchayat had sanctioned Rs.1.25 lakhs for the scheme. With the former Tourism Minister, K.V. Thomas, sanctioning Rs.5 lakhs, the project got a major boost," says M.P. Sivadattan, panchayat president, Kumbalangi.

"The plants thrive in marshy areas, off the backwaters. Our aim is to grow them in not-so-marshy places too. The benefit will be three-fold - increase in fish population (since fishes pool around in the marshy areas), fall in salinity level and an excellent habitat for birds. Birds love to flock in such places, the Kumarakom tourist spot being an apt example," he says.

The Tourism Secretary, T. Balakrishnan, said the mangrove-restoration plan was among the plans to revitalise the pristine environs of the village. The area used to be a haven of fishes, thanks to the thick mangrove cover. The fish population fell with mangroves being drastically cut down.

On the facilities that are being offered to tourists who visit the place, Mr. Balakrishnan said there was no plan to make a big road to the Kumbalangi tourism village. The aim was to limit traffic flow to the spot, he said.

The only road that runs through the village is narrow and vehicles find it difficult to traverse through is sharp curves. "The existing roads will be improved so that the area will be well connected to the main road. We are not keen on marketing it, to the extent of making it a commercial tourism destination. The focus will be on sustainable, ethnic, eco-tourism," he said.

"As of now tourists are keen on exploring the spot and getting familiarised with it. With the focus being on home stays, there are no plans to build hotels in Kumbalangi. The home-stay facilities will be improved so that the community stands to benefit from the project. We have held extensive discussions with peoples' representatives and local people before launching the tourist project. They drew out the plan to promote eco-tourism, under our guidance," Mr. Balakrishnan said.

Jos Byju, who provides home-stay facility for tourists in his house, says that he expects more tourist arrivals by September. "There has to be more awareness on the home-stay facility. Fishing being the main attraction in the area, nothing should be done which harms traditional fishermen," he says.

Large-scale tourism will destroy the serenity of the place. It will also result in locals being pushed out from the area, he adds.

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