The clamour for a bridge at Convent Kadavu near Cherai beach is threatening to cast a shadow over the tourism prospects of the coastal destination.
In the absence of an assurance from the authorities concerned over the demand for constructing a bridge connecting ward 23 and ward 1 of the Pallipuram panchayat, the protesters are planning to stage their protests during public events, including the Cherai beach festival. The beach festival in Cherai, which falls in the last week of December, is regarded as a flagship event promoting beach tourism in Kerala. A combination of local temple arts, folklores and other classical art forms, the event draws tourists from different parts of the country and even outside.
“The beach carnival will be among our venues for staging protests since it will help mobilise public support for the issue. The new bridge, when established, will be beneficial for the tourists as will open up an alternative route for them to reach the beach,” said Daisy Johnson, convener of the people’s protest committee campaigning for the bridge. During an all party meeting convened on October 30, Public Works Minister V.K. Ibrahim Kunju said the project would be executed with assistance from the NABARD. However, we are yet to get a final word on it even three weeks after the meeting, she pointed out.
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Commenting on the issue, Vypeen MLA S.Sarma pointed out that work on the bridge would begin after receiving an approval from the NABARD to fund the project. “The State government has already accorded an administrative sanction for the project and the cost of its establishment is estimated around Rs.19 crore, which has been included under the agency’s fund allocation to the PWD. We are now waiting for the final nod from their headquarters,” he said.
Though an approval had been received under the stimulus package in 2010, the project hit a roadblock owing to the delay in land acquisition. The three-decade long demand hogged the limelight recently with the protesters standing hip-deep in water, holding aloft a banner asking for a bridge, on the day of elections to the Parliament.