The move of the Kozhikode Corporation to shift the lorry stand along the renovated South Beach has faced a setback with the non-cooperation of a section of lorry owners, drivers and their agents in the district. Their unions claim that the lorry operators cannot shift immediately as the new parking areas identified at Koya Road and Meenchanda lack basic facilities.
The earlier plan of the corporation was to clear up the existing parking stand by May 1 and develop the space with the support of the Tourism Department for the parking requirements of visitors to the beach. The plan was put on hold when the lorry operators objected to shifting without basic facilities in the new spots.
The lorry agents pointed out that the building rent at Koya Road was very high compared with that of the beach area. Citing this also, they sought more time for shifting.
The space identified at Meenchanda too failed to attract the lorry agents. Many of them came up with the argument it was a remote place and had no facilities for the agents and drivers to coordinate their work.
The corporation authorities decided to shift the lorry stand from the beach area following complaints of anti-social activities there. The area was also emerging as a waste dumping yard. In the absence of toilet facilities, many of the inter-State lorry drivers were defecating on the beach.
Tourism Department officials said the immediate shifting of the lorry stand was essential for the proper management of the beautified South Beach, which would be thrown open to the public on July 19. The matter was taken up with the corporation authorities for urgent action, they added.
