KOCHI: The Kumbalangi Model Tourism Village project brought the potential of village tourism into the limelight. However, the construction of one of the most important parts of the project, the village itself, can never be a model for similar projects. The whole idea behind the ‘Kalagramam’ was conceived six years back, but the authorities are yet to provide land for its construction.Owing to the delay in land availability, this coastal village was to be created using sand dredged from the backwaters. Also, the panchayat had allotted an area of 4 acres to be reclaimed from the 14-acre fish pond under its possession.However, in the last six years, only 60 per cent of the reclamation work has been completed. “The reclamation work started in 2005 and is yet to be completed. Since, the panchayat failed to provide land on time, a Central Government grant of `1 crore has lapsed. The funds could be utilised only if the land was ready,” said M P Sivadathan, former president of Kumbalangi grama panchayat, during whose tenure the model tourism village project was implemented.“The completion of the work will help local fishermen, as the sand accumulated at various points between Kumbalanghi and Perumpadappu would be removed through dredging,” Sivadathan added. The dredging work was given to the Department of Harbour Engineering. However, the area marked to be reclaimed has not been filled even after spending more than `40 lakh including the government aid. The contractor, who was entrusted with the dredging work, stopped after the work started lagging.The ‘Kalagramam’, to be set up on four acres of reclaimed land in Kallanchery backwaters, would consist of a museum of traditional fishing equipment, training centres for traditional art forms such as Thiruvathira, an open air theatre, food courts and a walkway.Once completed, the ‘Kalagramam’, would be a centre of attraction for the tourists and could create job opportunities for the residents who are currently undergoing training in various traditional art forms of Kerala.“What has come as a setback for the project is the delay in completing the dredging work. Owing to the delay, we could not utilise the allotted amount. The project needs to be revived and has to be taken up before the departments concerned,” said MLA Dominic Presentation.
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