The Hindu Business Line : `Theerapathom' project work to begin early next year

THE State Tourism Department expects to begin work on the `Theerapathom' project in Thiruvananthapuram by early next year. Disclosing this to Business Line, Mr T. Balakrishnan, Sate Tourism Secretary, said several funding organisations, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the Asian Development Bank and the Union Ministry of Environment, have expressed interest in different components of the project.

Representatives of the Ministry of Environment and the JBIC are likely to visit the State for further evaluation of the project, he added.

The Theerapathom project envisages the development of a `leisure zone' around the Veli-Akkulam Lake and also along the banks of the Parvathy Puthanar canal that opens into the lake.

Describing the initiative as "essentially an environment upgradation project with a health and leisure component," Mr Balakrishnan said the key feature is to clean the canal and the Veli-Akkulam lake so that the water quality is "considerably improved." In order to ensure this, the project provides for the construction of a modern sewage treatment plant, besides measures to prevent the discharge of sewage into the canal and the lake, he added.

Construction of a walkway along the banks of the canal and around the lake is another important feature of the project. The idea behind the walkway - with small shops, restaurants and other leisure facilities alongside it - is to reintroduce the concept of "healthy living," Mr Balakrishnan said. A network of such walkways could be created alongside other water bodies in Thiruvananthapuram, he added.

Unrestricted movement of small, traditional boats will be allowed on the canal, said Mr Balakrishnan. However, every effort will be taken to keep the usage of motorboats to the minimum, he added.

The actual area of the project will extend to around 500 metres on either side of the canal, Mr Balakrishnan said. However, the acquisition of land for the project will be kept to the minimum and will be totally `need-based,' he said. In fact, the Government will do its best to avoid acquiring built-up area for the project, he added.

Similarly, the Government will take care to ensure that the local communities in the project area are integrated into the Theerapathom initiative.

"Concerted efforts will be made to ensure that the project will create economic opportunities for the local people," said Mr Balakrishnan. Wherever possible support will be given to local people to help them benefit from the project, he said. "No one will be thrown out," he added.

In fact, once the final approval is received from the funding agencies, the Veli-Akkulam stretch will be the first to be developed. This will help showcase the advantages of the project and dispel doubts, he added.