Centre approves Kerala tourism projects

Kochi: The central government has approved the six projects the Kerala state tourism department had submitted during the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Jagmohans visit to the state recently.

An estimated Rs 3.90 crore has been approved for the projects. The centre will release Rs 15 crore for the departments various projects before March-end. The centre has shown a positive attitude to the projects submitted by the state government, Minister for Tourism and Fisheries K V Thomas said here.

The projects include improvement of the Jewish Synagogue road and street lights (Rs 15 lakh), modification of the Dutch Palace surroundings (Rs 50 lakh), improvement of the Kalady River ghat (Rs 25 lakh), development of the jetty in Kochi backwaters (Rs 125 lakh), development of a walkway along the backwaters (Rs 125 lakh) and water sports (Rs 125 lakh), he said.

The centre has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for the development of water sports. The remaining 75 lakh will be released by April, he said. The centre has also approved projects given during 2000-2001 and has released Rs 2.7 crore towards these projects.

Some of these projects include: integrated development of Mattancherry-Fort Kochi (Rs 37.5 lakh); Bolghatty Palace restoration (Rs 25.17 lakh); restoration of heritage buildings at Chendamangalam (Rs 16.65 lakh); Aluva Palace modification (Rs 9.5 lakh); Aranmula boat race (Rs 4.5 lakh); ayurveda centre at Bolghatty (Rs 2.75 lakh); ayurvedic centre at Kumarakom (Rs 4 lakh); Bolghatty landscaping (Rs 11.1 lakh); water sports at Ashtamudi lake (Rs 20 lakh); house boats (Rs 5 lakh); trekking at Thenmala eco-tourism project (Rs 3.3 lakh); and house boats for the Malabar region (Rs 25 lakh).

The projects that have been approved and are awaiting funds include Hill Palace modification (Rs 35 lakh), Nehru boat race (106.32 lakh for three projects related to the boat race) and development of water sports in various areas (Rs 110 lakh).

The minister said the department had submitted 29 other projects to the central government. Discussions will be held on these projects after April 2002. The state government had earmarked around Rs 80 crore for tourism development for the current year. Of this Rs 30 crore will be used for development of infrastructure, while Rs 10 crore will be utilised for marketing.

He said the centre has approved Rs 13.24 crore for projects at the Muthalapozhi fishing harbour. In the first phase Rs 5.28 crore has been sanctioned. The Centre has also approved an excess amount of Rs 15 crore for the Thankaserry harbour. Of this the government has released Rs 7.5 crore. An estimated Rs 60 lakh has been allocated for the modernisation of fish landing centres and fishing harbours of Kerala. The fund will be released before March-end.

The tourism department will cooperate with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in the implementation of modernisation programmes at fish landing centres. Thomas said Munambam will be selected as a model project for these programmes. He said the centre has accepted a Rs 13.75-crore financial assistance for the Thalai harbour project.

The centre has also released Rs 4.5 crore out of the Rs 9 crore earmarked during the first phase of the Ponnani fishing harbour project. Tender proceedings on the Rs 27.59-crore project have been completed, the minister said. An expert committee has been constituted to select a site for the proposed aquarium park in Kochi. The programme, implemented in association with MPEDA, will focus on exports.

Thomas said his government will not privatise the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Steps will be taken for establishing an effective management in the corporation.