EZHIMALA: The picturesque beauty of the hillocks, a seafaring tradition and the rich historical background and the state government’s keen interest drew the Indian Navy to Ezhimala to set up its prestigious Naval Academy (NAVAC) here.
Once the headquarters of the Mooshika Kings during the Sangha period, Ezhimala faced a stiff competition from four other locations to get the academy, including Ootty, the Nilgiris, Bangalore and Pune. The Academy estate is a vast area divisible into the coastal strip facing the Arabian Sea in the west, punctuated by the low undulating hills forming the middle strip, and the uplands forming a part of the Western Ghats in the east.
Once commissioned, the officers joining the Navy will undergo training in this academy. The NAVAC will also train officers of the Indian Coast Guard. To project India as a friendly maritime power, cadets from the Navy wings of other countries will also be trained here. BTech courses in Electronics and Communications and Mechanical Engineering, affiliated to the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, will commence at the academy in June. The watermanship training centre is in the Kavvayi backwaters. The academy will have the capacity to train 750 trainees.
This will be increased to 1,500 by 2013.
``The local people will also benefit’’, said Commodore Suresh Laxman, Commanding Officer of INS Zamorin. “They will also be given preference when recruitment for clerical jobs are conducted,’’ he said.
The NA VAC is divided into three zones, Training zone, Administration zone and Accommodation zone. The training zone comprises of Academy Main Building Complex, Physical Training and Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) Complex, Outdoor Training and Watermanship Complex, Firing Range, Cadets’ Mess and Cadets’ Accommodation. The administration zone consists of Administrative Complex, Hospital, Logistic Complex Motor Transport Complex and Fire Station. The Academy Main Building Complex (AMBC) is the heart of the academy, which includes the Headquarters wing, Service and Technical Training wings, laboratories, workshops, a library and a 1,736- seater auditorium. The complex is located on a spur jutting out of the main ridge and forming the highest point of the academy. The construction the Indian Naval Hospital Ship Navjeevani is also progressing here.
INS Zamorin, the base depot ship for Naval Academy is named after the Zamorins of Kozhikode who had a strong fleet of warships under the stewardship of the famous Kunjali Marakkars. The Navy has also constructed a memorial for Kunjali Marakkar on the premises of his ancestral house at Iringal near Vatakara.
The NA VAC is being set up on 2,500-acre land given by the government, which provided Babu K Peter | ENS Ezhimala, January 2 The picturesque beauty of the hillocks, a seafaring tradition and the rich historical background and the state government’s keen interest drew the Indian Navy to Ezhimala to set up its prestigious Naval Academy (NA VAC) here.
Once the headquarters of the Mooshika Kings during the Sangha period, Ezhimala faced a stiff competition from four other locations to get the academy, including Ootty, the Nilgiris, Bangalore and Pune. The Academy estate is a vast area divisible into the coastal strip facing the Arabian Sea in the west, punctuated by the low undulating hills forming the middle strip, and the uplands forming a part of the Western Ghats in the east.
Once commissioned, the officers joining the Navy will undergo training in this academy. The NA VAC will also train officers of the Indian Coast Guard. To project India as a friendly maritime power, cadets from the Navy wings of other countries will also be trained here. BTech courses in Electronics and Communications and Mechanical Engineering, affiliated to the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, will commence at the academy in June. The watermanship training centre is in the Kavvayi backwaters. The academy will have the capacity to train 750 trainees.
This will be increased to 1,500 by 2013.
``The local people will also benefit’’, said Commodore Suresh Laxman, Commanding Officer of INS Zamorin. “They will also be given preference when recruitment for clerical jobs are conducted,’’ he said.
The NA VAC is divided into three zones, Training zone, Administration zone and Accommodation zone. The training zone comprises of Academy Main Building Complex, Physical Training and Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) Complex, Outdoor Training and Watermanship Complex, Firing Range, Cadets’ Mess and Cadets’ Accommodation. The administration zone consists of Administrative Complex, Hospital, Logistic Complex Motor Transport Complex and Fire Station. The Academy Main Building Complex (AMBC) is the heart of the academy, which includes the Headquarters wing, Service and Technical Training wings, laboratories, workshops, a library and a 1,736- seater auditorium. The complex is located on a spur jutting out of the main ridge and forming the highest point of the academy. The construction the Indian Naval Hospital Ship Navjeevani is also progressing here.
INS Zamorin, the base depot ship for Naval Academy is named after the Zamorins of Kozhikode who had a strong fleet of warships under the stewardship of the famous Kunjali Marakkars. The Navy has also constructed a memorial for Kunjali Marakkar on the premises of his ancestral house at Iringal near Vatakara.
The NA VAC is being set up on 2,500-acre land given by the government, which provided infrastructure facilities, including drinking water supply, 110 KV dedicated electric supply and roads. The government spent around Rs 50 crore to develop basic amenities. Only 40 percent of the total area have been utilised so far.facilities, including drinking water supply, 110 KV dedicated electric supply and roads. The government spent around Rs 50 crore to develop basic amenities. Only 40 percent of the total area have been utilised so far.