Hotel groups evince interest in Bekal tourism project

By Mohamed Nazeer

KASARAGOD, MAY 28. The beach frontage areas of Bekal here, being developed under the Bekal tourism project into an international tourist destination, are all set for being marketed in a big way as two major groups in the hospitality industry have shown keen interest in setting up resorts and beach properties in the project area.

The Bekal tourism project, billed as a major project that will open up the entire Malabar region as a tourism destination, is in for a big boost with the proposal by the Oberoi Group of Hotels to set up resorts and develop beach properties in one of the six sites identified for tourism development by the Bekal Tourism Development Corporation (BRDC) as a joint venture with the Tourism Resorts Kerala Ltd., a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. BRDC sources here told The Hindu that the Government gave in-principle approval, through an order issued last month, for the proposal to hand over the 25- acre site at Kappil in Udma panchayat to the joint venture company - Oberoi Kerala Hotels and Resorts Ltd. - on lease for 30 years.

The sources also said that a high-power committee with the Tourism Secretary as convener had been constituted by the Government to work out the fixing of land value and other modalities for transfer of the site. The beach frontage site with backwater area on one side and a cliff area protruding into the sea on the southern side of the beach is expected to be handed over to the joint venture company soon, the sources said. The BRDC would develop exclusive access to the site and provide 11 kv electric line in the area, they added. The entry of Oberoi Group to establish beach properties in Bekal would attract big international hotel groups to the area, they said, adding that the Taj Group was also planning to set up resorts and beach properties through a joint venture with a Government agency. A senior official of the Taj group recently visited Bekal, they added.

Though the BRDC had announced that the tourism development project would be ready for being marketed from 1997, it is yet to take a major marketing effort to sell the sites being developed under the project as it is now engaged in works for the infrastructure development in the project area that come under Chemnad, Udma, Pallikkara and Ajanur panchayats in the district. BRDC officials said that the Corporation had already acquired 220 acres that form 95 per cent of the total project area. Of the total six sites identified for development, land acquisition of five sites was completed, they said.

Though the Bekal tourism project had earlier raised apprehensions about massive displacements of families inhabiting the area, only 13 families have been displaced. According to BRDC officials, each of the displaced families has been given five cents of land close to, but outside, the project sites for rehabilitation. Each displaced family has also been given a financial assistance of Rs. 22,000 and technical help for house construction by the BRDC. As none of the six sites has fishermen settlement, no fishermen family has been dislocated from the project area.

As the Karichery river, a tributary of the Chandragiri river, has been identified as the water source of the project, a 7.5 mld (million litres a day) water supply scheme with an estimated cost of Rs. 15 crores will be launched soon, to be completed in 25 months. According to officials, as only 50 per cent of the total capacity of the scheme is required for the tourism project, the BRDC will distribute drinking water to areas reeling under acute water shortage in the four panchayats. Land acquisition for the project is getting completed.

The BRDC is also planning to set up a pilot solid waste treatment plant in Ajanur panchayat. Another pilot scheme under the total sanitation scheme in the project area will be implemented in Pallikkara and Ajanur panchayats with the co-operation of the local bodies, the BRDC officials have said adding that as a first step, toilets will be constructed for living in coastal areas in association with the Fisheries Department. The BRDC has so far developed 16 rural roads under the tourism project. The work on improving the Bekal Fort Junction with an estimated cost of Rs. 17 lakhs is in progress.

According to BRDC officials, the Corporation has developed spots and provided facilities for domestic tourists who visit the area to see the Bekal Fort. Apart from the facility centre named `Thanal Vishrama Kendra' set up near the Fort, the BRDC has developed the 25-acre beach on the southern side of the Fort to cater to domestic tourists. An average 500 to 700 domestic tourists are visiting Bekal every day. The beach area has been given a facelift with the installation of laterite sculptures, construction of a walkway and setting up of shades. The BRDC has also started boating units in two places. A Rs.35-lakh project for introducing two houseboats in the nearby Valiayaparamba panchayat is among the direct tourism-related project of the BRDC. According to the officials, the BRDC will provide facilities for trekking in outlying hill stations such as Ranipuram and Kottanchery close to the Karnataka border.

As a measure to enable the local people to utilise the tourism opportunities in the area, the BRDC is also planning to form tourism youth clubs in association with the local colleges. The BRDC recently organised a seminar to promote local enterprises in tourism and allied sectors. Such initiatives are being taken to ensure that the local people realised the full potential of the upcoming Bekal tourism project, the BRDC officials say.

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