Kerala - Kochi   

UNDP official’s visit boosts Kumbalanghi, Kalady projects

KOCHI: This year is going to be a special one for Kumbalanghi Model Tourism Village and Kalady Spice Village projects.

The district administration is confident that it could impress Sudhir Sahi, national consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, which is supporting both the projects. Mr. Sahi visited the sites of both the projects on Saturday.

The consultant evaluated the success of Kumbalanghi project and asked to submit proposals for advanced promotion, said A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, District Collector and the nodal officer for the projects.

Agencies involved in the Kumbalanghi model tourism village project, which is the first of its kind in the country and now featured in the Incredible India campaign by Union Ministry of Tourism, have been asked to prepare itineraries catering to different tour packages.

Discussions will be held with tour operators on promoting the project on a larger canvas, Mr. Hanish said.

The request to the Union government for financial support for completing the Kalagramam (Artist’s Village) is being considered positively. Besides this, funds are expected from the UNDP for constructing an orientation centre at the mouth of the village, he said.

Kalagramam, included in the original proposal of the project, would be constructed in Kallencheri backwater using dredged sand. The artificially-created island will showcase traditional art and trade equipment.

However, the project hung fire owing to lack of coordination between agencies involved. Department of Harbour Engineering was to dredge the backwater and create the island. No progress was made on this.

The district administration is also expediting the hardware component for the Spice Village programme at Kalady. The deadline set for launching the project is December 31, 2008, Mr. Hanish said.

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