KOZHIKODE: Kappad wears a dilapidated look at the threshold of yet another tourism season. Lack of renovation works and improper maintenance have made visitors skip the destination even during weekend outings.
A damaged entrance gate welcomes people. Its roof is in ruins and paintings fading. The lights at the northern side did not blink for the last eight months.
Six high-mast lights and 70 decorative lights are not functioning. Visitors use to spend up to 9 pm when there were ample lights.
The cafeteria has downed shutters. Visitors have to return seeing the locked door of the toilet.
A majority of the 300 odd decorative lamps on the southern side are also not functioning. The toilet here is partially destroyed. The person who took a two-year maintenance contract sub-contracted a group of three women.
Now, they too have left, and the security personnel are maintaining the toilet.Locals allege that drunkards and sand smugglers were behind the destruction of decorative lamps.
“A few security personnel cannot keep vigil all through the night here. Chaos created by booze parties and sand smugglers are ruling the roost,” says K. Hasan Koya, a native.
Shivan P.G., joint secretary, state tourism department, told DC that estimation of the maintenance works had been taken, and it would begin soon.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
