The Rs 198-crore Thalassery Heritage Tourism Circuit, which was given the Cabinet’s approval in 2010, is yet to take wings. The project envisaged to boost the untapped tourism potential of North Malabar failed to gain momentum beyond the initiatives taken during the fag end of the LDF ministry.
Even the project office was closed down and many heritage cites proposed to be protected maintaining the traditional architectural splendour are either demolished in the meantime or are on the verge of extinction. Even after administrative sanction was accorded for 12 proposals, the Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd could not begin works on them. Gundert Bhavanam, where Herman Gundert spent 25 years, is the most important monument awaiting immediate renovation in this category. Though the Defense Ministry had reportedly agreed to provide technical assistance for the most challenging project, the hanging bridge, proposed to connect the Dharmadam islands and the Asia’s longest drive-in-beach at Muzhappilangad, the Tourism Department failed to take time-bound initiative. The saddest fact is that the project report for preserving ancient monuments prepared by specialist architect Benny Kuriaksoe has been lying in cold storage. “Only `30 crore was sanctioned for the project so far. The project is getting crippled as enough funds were not allotted for the approved projects. Now the Tourism Department is concentrating on building good roads in the town,” Kodiyeri Balakrishnan MLA said.
The incomplete projects opened with much fanfare during the LDF regime, including the Dharamadam Island Tourist Centre, have not been properly maintained and being devoid of water, electricity, refreshment stalls and wash rooms, tourists have abandoned them. The artists in Malabar under the banner of
‘Multi-media Artist Forum’ had organized a protest meet on the Dharmadam Island recently against the government’s apathy. Amidst these the proposed sites, including the house of A K Gopalan and the bungalow of Brown, renowned British spice trader, were demolished while the house of Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar, the author of the first short story in Malayalam ‘Vasanavikruthi’ was occupied by a parallel college.
“We had tried our maximum to get the possession of ‘Kapparatti Bavanam’. But the college management refused to hand over the house and even altered the ceiling of it,” Sreedhanyan, project engineer, said.
Known as the city of cakes, cricket and circus, museums for all the three were envisaged in Thalassery but they could not be opened though it was also a project where the Sports Ministry, Kerala Cricket Association and the Kerala State Bakers Association could collaborate with Tourism Ministry.
Though the heritage circuit was expected to cover sites in over 100 km, the renovation of sites at Payyannur, Kannur, Kannapuram, Azhikkal, and Madayi have fallen into oblivion. The proposed Handloom Village at Azhikkal, a befitting gift to Kannur, the city of looms and lores, is yet to get the nod. “The gross apathy of the Tourism Department is the reason for the failure of the project. It is sad that even project office under the ADM rolled down the shutter,” Ravi, former project coordinator, said.