Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051010980300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Alappuzha port revival prospects brighten

Staff Reporter

Minister to discuss the issue with workers

ALAPPUZHA: Prospects of revival of the historic port and the pier at Alappuzha are brightening once again with Minister for Ports M. Vijayakumar to discuss the issue with the port workers' union and other officials here on Thursday.

The port, which became defunct nearly two decades ago, is of historic importance to the area and has seen several efforts for revival, including a Rs.250-crore marina (tourism) project.

The project envisaged a breakwater structure to facilitate tourist ships enter the port, water sports facilities and making the sea nearby the port a sheltered area among other plans.

The pier too was to be reconstructed.

However, the project has been lying dormant though the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) Government had called for tenders. The global tenders invited by the Government saw several companies coming forward, memoranda of understanding being signed and so on, but nothing much happened beyond that.

Absence of security

In the meanwhile, absence of proper security led to the plunder of the equipment at the port with the iron beams and wood of the pier being stolen.

At present, only the scaffold of the pier remains.

Former Tourism Minister and present Alappuzha MLA K.C. Venugopal was then behind the efforts for the revival of the project, which was among major development projects drawn up by the Ports Department along with the Vizhinjam, Azhikkal and Beypore port projects.

With Mr. Vijayakumar now responding to pleas from Mr. Venugopal and the port workers' union, chances are that fresh global tenders might be invited within six months. However, detailed project

reports might have to be prepared all over again, official sources indicated.

The Alappuzha port was the first commercial port in the princely State of Travancore.

It was established by Raja Kesavadas, the then Diwan of Travancore.

However, with the Cochin Port being opened, shipping operations thinned out.

From 1981 to 1991, only five ships were said to have come to the port.

Of these, one was during 1982-83, three were during 1988-89 and one probably the last, during 1989-90.

With commercial operations ruled out, the only chance of revival of the port stands as a tourist spot.