Categorical Information Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although the inflow of home vacationers to Kovalam has elevated prior to now months, authorities have turned a blind eye in the direction of the event of fundamental facilities at Eve and Lighthouse seashores. The only tiled walkway is damaged at many locations as a consequence of frequent sea assaults. Lack of fresh public bogs for vacationers and lighting services add to the issues. Lighthouse seashore has not been reopened but for public use. 

Social media is buzzing with detrimental opinions from guests. “There aren’t any dustbins, bogs or ATMs on the beachside. By the way, many eating places and shacks don’t obtain credit score or debit playing cards for digital funds and so they want solely money. Above all, the seashore appears to be like soiled and there’s no periodical cleansing going down,” says one of many opinions. 

“In comparison with Kovalam, extra vacationers want Varkala now, because of the dangerous infrastructure. Kovalam badly wants a facelift. In any other case, this seashore will disappear from the world vacationer map quickly”, says Senthil Kumar, a restaurant proprietor on Lighthouse seashore.  

Revival challenge enters impasse
In 2019, the tourism division launched a challenge value Rs 20 crore for the beautification and growth of the defunct Samudra, Eve’s, Sea Rock and LightHouse seashores. As per the challenge, the federal government had assured that the Samudra seashore space shall be developed right into a vibrant seashore park. The authorities deliberate for a Rs 10 crore value challenge which may  rework the seashore by including a slew of services together with viewing deck, water hammering deck, curler skating rinks, and stone mandapams of varied sizes. The challenge had additionally included organising bathroom complexes, altering rooms, open-air theatre and multi-level  automotive parking services. 

Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran had promised challenge completion in two years. Growth of Eve’s seashore, Sea Rock Seashore and Lighthouse Seashore included walkways of 13 toes width and 400-meter size, laser present facility and tripods for coastal security. Nonetheless, nothing has been materialised but.  In the meantime, a senior official of the Tourism division advised TNIE that the federal government had renovated the walkway and lights in 2019 as a part of step one and it was delayed solely because of the pandemic. “The pandemic and frequent sea erosion had delayed the beautification. The works will start after the elections,”the official stated.