Kerala - Kochi   

Confusion reigns over Kumbalanghi project

Photo: VipinChandran

CHANGING PATTERNS: A water body at Kumbalanghi being filled to construct a resort. -

KOCHI: Even as Kumbalanghi, arguably the first-ever model tourism village in the country, is poised to scale new heights of glory, confusion remains about the implementation part of the project.

The Union Ministry of Tourism is all set to promote Kumbalanghi as one of the leading destinations in one or two-day packages along with the Incredible India campaign. But the developments on the ground do not match with the vision those at the helm have.

The District Collector, in his capacity as the nodal officer for the model tourism project being implemented with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funds, has issued a stop memo for construction activities at a resort in the village.

The reason, the construction involves filling of water bodies in the fragile ecosystem of the area.

However, the village panchayat gave green signal for construction of 56 cottages, perched on pillars set in water bodies. “Such a construction activity can only be allowed after proper study by aquaculture experts,” said Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish.

The Union Ministry, he said, was very particular in conserving the pristine rural charm of the village. Any activity contrary to that would lead to re-thinking about being included in the Incredible India campaign.

On their part, the panchayat officials appeared unaffected. “The present land fill is only temporary, to unload the construction material. We have given permission to construct 60 cottages in the water body, which will be marketed as part of the model tourism project. The construction works are progressing,” said John Pazheri, panchayat president.

The panchayat is planning to go ahead with dredging of canals and use the dredged sand to construct an island in the middle of the Kallencheri backwaters.

The Model Tourism Village Project has proposal for construction of a Kalagramam (artists’ village) on this island to showcase traditional art and culture.

At present, the district administration is caught in a dilemma. “At this point, we cannot afford to have a paradigm shift. At the same time, the tourist traffic to the village has increased tremendously after high media exposure and campaigns. This calls for a carrying capacity study and also ways to accommodate this volume of tourists,” said Mr. Hanish.

If the panchayat officials have their way, the resort will come up in another year’s time. That could take the model tourism project being implemented at Kumbalanghi along a different route altogether.

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