THRISSUR: Most of the museums being set up under the Muziris Heritage project would be opened by Onam, Finance Minister Thomas Issac said.
He was delivering the keynote address at the workshop held here for detailed discussions and finalisation of project reports prepared by the sub-committees for the nine museums proposed to be set up under the project. Infrastructure facilities including roads and clearing of canals costing Rs 17 crore would be completed by August next year, he said. The designs for these museums would be finalised by January and administrative sanctions for their establishment would be granted by February.
Inaugurating the workshop, Culture and Education Minister M A Baby said it was for the first time in the history of Kerala that such a major project of historical, cultural, social and educational value was being taken up. In Muziris, more excavations will have to be conducted without minding their costs and results. He said the aim should be to develop the project as an international tourist attraction and take advantage out of it.
Speaking at the function, Fisheries Minister S Sarma said the project would be a major attempt to unearth information on our heritage.
Revenue Minister K P Rajendran in his presidential address said the Muziris heritage project, as against the initial expectations, has been receiving the well-desired popular support now. The museums proposed to be set up are Paliyam Nalukettu Lifestyle Museum and Dutch Museum, Chendamangalam, Kesari Balakrishnapillai Museum, Kodungallur Kunjikuttan Tamburan complex, Sahodaran Ayyappan Museum, Cherai, Muhammed Abdurahiman Museum of National Movement in Kerala, Kottappuram Fort, Jewish Museum (Paravur Synagogue, Chendamangalam Synagogue), Muziris Archaeology Park and Kunjikutti Tamburatti museum.