Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Beach beautification work stalled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The beautification of the Shanghumughom beach, which is being taken up by Kerala Tourism under the Union government’s beach tourism circuit programme and tsunami rehabilitation programme, has come to a standstill.

The Rs.3.6-crore beach beautification work, being executed by the Harbour Engineering Department, was hit after a section of local people objected to the fencing of the project area which comes to six-and-a-half acres, official sources said.

They have claimed ownership of two-and-a-half acres of prime land on the side of the road from Shanghumughom to Veli.

At present, the land is being used as football ground. However, residents have not been able to submit documents to support their claim.

The executing agency, which had commenced the work of the restaurant and fencing of the project area, had stopped it following opposition, at times threats too, from the local people. The Harbour Engineering Department is learnt to have decided to take up the issue with Kerala Tourism.

Another issue worrying the executing agency is that the road from Shanghumughom to the international airport is yet to be realigned by the TRIDA. Sources said work could be taken up on the beach side only after the road is realigned. As part of the project, the existing road to the airport will be closed for vehicular traffic.

Under the Rs.2-crore project funded by the tsunami rehabilitation programme, landscaping, restaurant, kiosks, pay-and-use toilet block, fountain and walkway will be constructed.

Tourism sources said the works on the restaurant and fencing were taken up after obtaining clearance from the civic authorities. The areas near the Kalmandapam and star fish restaurant will be developed initially. “The project has to be completed by March 2009. The funds from the tsunami rehabilitation programme will lapse if the work gets delayed,” sources said.

A leisure zone is being created at Shanghumughom under the Centre government’s beach tourism circuit programme at an estimated cost of Rs.1.6 crore. The Harbour Engineering Department is the executing agency of this project also.

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