Plans for Kovalam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Tourism Department would sanction Rs 10 crore for a special water supply scheme for tourism hub Kovalam. This was decided at a meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Wednesday. The meeting also decided to form a master plan for Kovalam and to revive the Kovalam Advisory Committee as part of tapping the potential of the coastal region. The Kerala Water Authority has been instructed to take up the work and complete it as quickly as possible. Another decision taken at the meeting concerns beautification of the Chackai-Kovalam bypass. Dumping of garbage on the roadsides will be prohibited at all costs. There is also a proposal to re-design and refurbish bunk shops on the roadsides. The Tourism Department has been instructed to take up beautification of the roadsides with the involvement of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and entrepreneurs in the Tourism sector. The Chief Minister instructed the Tourism Director to submit a report on beautifying the sea rock leading from the bypass to the beach. Another crucial issue in Vizhinjam has been the establishment of a waste processing plant. Although the Tourism Department had readied 50 cents of land for the purpose, the project did not materialise owing to stiff opposition from the local people. Wednesday’s meeting decided to bring about a consensus on the issue and realise the project after obtaining the consent of the public. The Tourism Department and the Suchitwa Mission have been entrusted with this job. Mayor K Chandrika, who was present, promised action to prevent pollution of the beach at Edakkallu. Steps would also be taken to free Kovalam of plastic. Further, the meeting entrusted the Kovalam chapter of the Kerala Hotels and Restaurants’ Association with the job of operating the streetlamps installed by the Tourism Department in the area. PWD officials have been instructed to complete repairs on dilapidated roads in the Tourism hub as quickly as possible. Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar, Shashi Tharoor MP, Jameela Prakasam MLA, Tourism Secretary T K Manoj Kumar and Director K G Mohanlal also were present.