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Beach wardens to be posted at Kovalam

Staff Reporter

Kerala Tourism, hotels to share expenses

Kovalam: Beach wardens would be posted in the Light House and Eve's beaches here to provide adequate security to tan-seekers and to end the pestering from hawkers, beggars and local people.

A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of Kovalam Development Agency held under the chairmanship of Minister for Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan at the Guest House here on Tuesday. Kerala Tourism and local unit of Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) would jointly share the expenses incurred towards the salary of the 10 beach wardens to be posted in the one-and-a-half km beachfront.

Asundha Mohan, president of Vizhinjam panchayat, informed the meeting that the panchayat had issued notices to the 153 unauthorised constructions at Kovalam. "They are yet to respond to the notices. Already eight persons have managed to obtain stay from the High Court", she added.

Intervening on the issue, the Minister said the hoteliers should cooperate with authorities to prevent unauthorised constructions, as any change in the topography of the resort will lead to sharp decline in tourist arrivals.

Mrs. Mohan said the Rs.1.45-crore project to provide drinking water to 11 wards, including Kovalam, of the panchayat will be completed in January 2007.

On the complaints that streetlights handed over to panchayat were not glowing, Mrs. Mohan said estimate had been taken and steps would be taken to ensure that lights are glowing before the month end.

The KHRA pointed out that some upmarket hotels were not cooperating with the panchayat's waste management project. Kerala Tourism has informed the panchayat to make the project self-sustainable.

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