KOZHIKODE: The Government will take immediate steps to restart boating at Thekkady, Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said.
“A majority of the residents, who depend on tourism for their livelihood, have requested the government to take steps to ensure that boating resumes at the earliest,” he told reporters on Tuesday after reviewing tourism projects in the north Malabar districts. However, boating services will be reintroduced only after completing the safety checks.
On the High Court’s remark on the tragedy, the Minister said the government would comment on it only after ‘studying’ it. “It is not appropriate to share with the media our views on comments made by courts.” Instead, the government, which is obliged to present all the necessary documents sought by the High Court, “will follow the legal path to prove our stand.” On the KTDC chairman’s comment that certain lobbies outside Kerala were trying to tarnish the image of the State’s tourism industry, he said Kerala had successfully marketed its tourism possibilities in the international market. “Many lobbies outside Kerala are jealous of the recent achievements of our State in this sector,” he added.