Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Reclamation of backwaters: VS’ intervention sought

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s intervention has been sought against the reclamation of backwaters and Pokkali fields at Kumbalanghi, near Kochi, reportedly for the promotion of tourism.

Equations, a non-profit organisation set up for research, training and promotion of holistic tourism, pointed out in a letter to Mr. Achuthanandan that huge areas of water body was being reclaimed for the promotion of tourism in Kumbalanghi.

It was pointed out that Kumbalanghi panchayat partially reclaimed four acres of backwaters in 2005 to create an island in the middle of the backwaters for the construction of ‘Kalagramam’ as part of the Endogenous Tourism Project.

The Department of Harbour Engineering had completed dredging of 850 metres, starting from Perumpadappu Bridge in October 2005.

The dredging was done at a cost of Rs.35 lakh. Kerala Tourism gave Rs.10 lakh and the rest by the Agency for Development of Aquaculture, Kerala, under the Department of Fisheries.

The area marked out for dumping the dredged sand did not improve much as the sand dredged out was not enough to fill the proposed four acres in the backwaters, the letter said.

The Union Government had allocated Rs.2 crore for the Kalagramam project. The authorities and implementing agencies were again on the move to dredge the canal and reclaim fully the four acres of backwaters.

Equations pointed out that the reclamation of backwaters for the construction of Kalagramam did not match with the principles of Endogenous Tourism Project.

It urged the government to take steps to stop the implementing agencies from the creation of artificial island for construction of ‘Kalagramam’.

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