Mahe looks beyond booze

MAHE: The tipplers' flow to the 'boozers' paradise' has cone down with the closure of 30 out of the 32 liquor outlets in Mahe following the Supreme Court order. However, the other regions-- Palloor, Pandakkal and Moolakkadavu-- of the union territory of Puducherry are crowded with drinkers as nearly 30 liquor outlets which are away from the National Highway are located in these places. The shutdown of liquor outlets may boost the tourist inflow into this former French colony which has historic monuments as well as nature's bounty. Many were reluctant to visit the tourist spots in Mahe earlier due to the presence of many drinkers there.

Mahe , the nine sq-km piece of land sandwiched between Kozhikode and Kannur district, is the only French colony along the Arabian Sea and is just 8 km from Thalassery- one of the prominent towns during the British Raj in Malabar which also has a number of historical sites. "Mahe has huge tourism potential and many collectives from the region are preparing plans for boosting it,," said Sadiq Manjakkal, a social activist. Mahe MLA Dr Ramachandran dismissed the arguments that lack of liquor outlets would weaken the tourism sector. "Tourism is not dependent on liquor in Mahe which has its own specialities to attract tourists. If some tourists need liquor, they can access it from nearby areas," he added.

"The second and third phases of the three-km stretch of Mahe walkway are progressing. Two boat jetty projects are also being implemented. However, we are facing lack of space for creating amenities for the tourists. Recently, we planned for a light and sound show in Mahe, but couldn't implement it due to lack of space," said Mahe regional administrator S. Manicka Deepan. The Kerala government's Thalassery heritage project will include Mahe in its circuit that would boost its tourism scope.