Curbs imposed on Kerala eco-tourism project
By IANSWednesday, July 14, 2010
NEW DELHI - The ministry of environment and forests has halted all activities related to the construction of a mangrove theme park in Kerala’s Kannur district due to fears of environmental damage.
The orders were issued Wednesday after a site visit by officials on the request of area MP K. Sudhakaran.
The Pappinissery panchayat was constructing a theme park on tidal flats, mangroves and abandoned filtration ponds. It had planned shops, observation points and floating restaurants within the park.
For accessing the park, bridges, jetties, wooden planks and roads were being constructed. Diesel generator sets had also been installed within the project area.
According to the ministry order, the project area falls within the Coastal Regulation Zone-1 which is an “ecologically sensitive area”.
The ministry directed the Pappinissery Eco-Tourism Society to “stop all activities related to the mangrove theme park”.
The chairman of the Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority was directed to visit the project site, along with officials of Kerala forest department and the Centre for Earth Science Studies to “assess the damage/destruction carried out in the area”.
The ministry has sought their report within 15 days.
