The quiet-flowing Kakkattar, a tributary of the Pampa, is fast turning into an ecotourism destination. The coracle ride launched by the Seethathode grama panchayat on the Kakkattar at Moozhiyar three months ago has became a good draw.
The Seethathode-Gavi Popular Tourism (SGPT) project is the first of its kind to be launched by a grama panchayat in the State. The project was launched by Ports Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran in June.
SGPT managing committee chairman Joby T.Easow told The Hindu that the Tourism Department had acknowledged the local self-government institution’s concept of responsible tourism and sanctioned ₹3 crore for infrastructure development of the SGPT.
Coracle ride
The grama panchayat had purchased 16 coracles from Hogenakkal in Karnataka, spending ₹3 lakh from its own fund. The rate fixed by the panchayat for a 1.5-km coracle ride for four persons is ₹400.
Mr. Easow said the panchayat had also opened a tourism facilitation centre at Angamoozhy Junction and an online booking system for the coracle ride would be introduced this month.
The grama panchayat had made a Plan fund allocation of ₹9 lakh for setting up a children’s park and to open refreshment stalls at Angamoozhy, Lekha Suresh, panchayat president, said.
Mr. Easow said the panchayat had given a free hand to the SGPT managing committee to facilitate hassle-free and transparent functioning of the tourism project.
He said the committee was for following responsible tourism at Angamoozhy, which has good ecotourism potential.
Angamoozhy was also deemed as the gateway to the famous ecotourism spot of Gavi.
“Responsible tourism complies with the principles of social and economic justice and exerts full respect towards the environment and its cultures. It also recognises the centrality of the local host community and its right to act as a protagonist in developing a sustainable and responsible tourism model,” he said.
Deputy Tahsildar M.S.Bijukumar, a local resident, was the manager of the tourism project, he said.
Mr. Easow said the committee was planning to utilise the Tourism Department’s fund for setting up a children’s park, a hanging bridge across the Kakkattar, and for introducing kayaking on the river course at Moozhiyar.
