Kollam: Tourism and agriculture sectors occupy the first place in the district development plan draft envisaging timely integral development of Kollam district.
The district collector Dr S. Karthikeyan, IAS, handed over the draft plan to the district panchayat president, K. Jagadamma, who is also the district planning committee president.
The primary focus of development in the district will be the conservation of Ashtamudi lake and associated ecosystem according to the draft plan.
The conservation of the lake will be implemented with people’s participation as fishing is the source of livelihood for thousands who live along the shores of the lake.
Fishing in the lake can be continued with restrictions while preserving the healthy ecology of the lake also its tapping tourism potential, the draft said.
The administration also envisages diversification of inland fish farming as part of Ashtamudi development. The move will have the association of Fisheries department, Kudumbasree, local self governments, and fishermen cooperative societies.
The district administration had earlier anno-unced special package for Ashtamudi tourism. As part of taking the preliminary step, a wayside relaxation centre at Chavara and the new Sree Narayana Guru pavilion at the Kannetti backwaters were opened last month with an aim to attract more tourists by giving priority to backwater tourism. ‘Take a Break’ wayside relaxation centre, near the Chavara Titanium grounds in Panmana panchayat, has amenities including the provision for a house boat, a two-seater speed boat, and a 17-seater safari boat catering to the tourists.
A tram car service along the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and construction of a ring road for cyclists and pedestrians are also under consideration. The project of ring road envisages preventing encroachment into the Lake, which has now found to be extensive. An eco-friendly trip in the tram car round the adventure park zone as part of the project will help tourists enjoy green mangrove cover along the Ashramam end of the Ashtamudi Lake.
