KOZHIKODE: District Collector U.V. Jose on Monday directed the city corporation and the Revenue Department authorities to immediately identify all illegal constructions and encroachments along the Kozhikode beach and initiate steps to clear them as part of the proposed beautification project.
A preliminary survey had been conducted on the coastline to finalise the beautification project with the support of various government departments.
On the Collector’s directive, the corporation will impose restrictions on illegal pushcart trade and scattered parking. A survey will be conducted to ascertain the actual number of pushcart traders and identify a convenient spot for them to conduct business. They will also be issued licences. During his visit to the beach on Tuesday, the Collector decided to entrust the ‘Swabhiman’ workforce of the district administration with the clean-up work. Accordingly, Swabhiman will tidy up the area late at night, so that beachgoers are not inconvenienced. The work will begin on Tuesday.
Mr. Jose made it clear that obstructive parking along the beach would be banned post-beautification. He said a separate space for parking would be identified, and that the work would be completed before the next Kozhikode Literary Fest.
Meanwhile, Tourism Department officials said the government would spend ₹4 crore on the beautification project. Later, the cooperation of trainees at the Pre-Recruitment Training Centre in the city will be sought to make people aware of the clean-up activities and safety measures, they said.
The last full-fledged beach beatification was conducted in 2014. The department had then spent ₹3.80 crore on the project, which included the construction of rain shelters and pavements.
Later, the local development funds of people’s representatives and tsunami rehabilitation funds were pooled to carry out other renovation works.
