The Hindu Business Line : Marina will be under Govt control: Minister

THE Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ms Renuka Choudhury, has categorically stated that the proposed marina at the Bolghatty Palace here will neither affect its heritage nor pose any threat to national security.

Alleviating fears of the local populace over the setting up of marina by a Malaysian firm at Bolghatty, the Minister said the Government would have complete control over the project, even though it would be set up with a foreign participation.

She told reporters here that Trans Resource Corporation in Malaysia had won the global tender floated by the State Tourism Department for the Rs 50-crore marina that would provide mooring facilities for luxury yachts and boats.

Such a facility will attract luxury yachts from various countries on account of Kochi's strategic location in the international navigation route, she said, adding that the Union Government had already sanctioned Rs 4.23 crore for the project.

It may be recalled that a section of the people had raised objections to the project citing reasons of threat to national security and non-protection of a heritage site built by the Dutch at Bolghatty a century ago.

Ms Choudhury pointed out that Kerala had good potential to attract cruise tourism and the Centre would make efforts in this direction to attract cruise liners.

Referring to the tourism achievements of Kerala, she said the State had become the fastest growing destination, registering an increase of 26.68 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals last year.

The State Tourism Minister, Mr P. Sankaran, said on the occasion that the Malaysian company had built over 100 marinas across the world and the State Government, with 26 per cent stake, will have effective control over it.

Mr T. Balakrishnan, State Tourism Secretary, said that if people did not want the project at Bolghatty, it would be set up at any alternative land offered by the Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) or the Greater Cochin Development Authority or Kochi Port Trust.