The Hindu : Kerala News : Model tourism village reeling under water shortage

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Friday, Jul 07, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Model tourism village reeling under water shortage

Staff Reporter

Move to revive village ponds in Kumbalanghi

KOCHI: Even as tourist traffic to the Kumbalanghi Model Tourism Village is poised to increase with the Union Ministry of Tourism actively promoting the destination, the village is reeling under acute water shortage.

The idyllic village on the city suburbs shot to fame when it was approved as the first model tourism village in the country, with financial assistance from the Union and State governments and also the United Nations Development Programme.

There were proposals to preserve natural resources and rainwater harvesting as part of the tourism project, but this did not work out, said M.P. Sivadathan, former panchayat president and currently president of the Kumbalanghi Model Tourism Development Society (KMTDS).

The initiative taken by the panchayat to construct a rainwater-harvesting unit was not approved by the District Planning Council (DPC). "This year, we are planning to encourage rainwater harvesting units at individual levels," said John Pazheri, panchayat president.

The issue of water shortage was discussed at the meeting convened by the local MLA last week. "The Deputy Tahsildar had informed the meeting that two tanker lorries of 12,000-litre capacity are making three trips daily to the village, whereas in reality only one lorry of 4,000-litre capacity is making three trips daily," he said.

The village panchayat has complained that it is not getting much benefit under the tourism scheme. Many regions of the panchayat, especially Anjilithara and Kallencheri remain parched for most of the time. On their part, the tourism officials are planning to rework the existing schemes to address this burning issue.

K. Murali Menon, coordinator of the model village tourism project, said: "we are working in association with the department of eco-tourism to revive the 300-odd village ponds and to clean up the 6-km-long canal that runs through the village. The director of eco-tourism visited the canal recently."

A proposal to this effect is being readied, which also includes planting mangrove along the banks of the canal and ponds. "Once these are readied, the water scarcity in the village will be solved almost permanently," said Mr. Menon.

Right now, the tourism industry is feeling the pinch. "With no home connection, we have to collect water from the public taps. None of the promises made, including that of a separate pipeline for the village, has materialised," said T.R. Sebastian, owner of one of the homestays in the village. The District Collector has convened a meeting next week of all concerned, in anticipation of an increase in tourist traffic during next season.

The issue of water shortage is expected to be discussed at this meeting.

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