Facelift for Pathiramanal biopark

ALAPPUZHA: The state government is reviving the decade-old Pathiramanal biopark with the support of local bodies. The project was conceived during the previous LDF government with the backing of the Union government to create an eco-friendly environment to conserve birds and trees under the threat of extinction. For the development of the project, the Union government had allocated Rs 4.99 crore and on November 10, 2008, the then chief minister, V.S. Achuthanandan, laid its foundation stone. But it got delayed due to land acquisition issues.

Muhamma panchayat president J. Jayalal said it would be implemented with the support of tourism department and the panchayat would spend Rs 18 lakh. The district panchayat has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh. As a result of the delay in land acquisition, Rs 5.5 crore allocated earlier —  Rs 5 crore of it from the Centre and the rest the state — got lapsed. “No works had begun as some islanders challenged the project in the court,” he said, adding, it would not be expanded to the disputed land. “There was also confusion created by Kerala State Biodiversity Board’s environmental impact assessment report recommending its restructuring.  However, the government gave the go-ahead to the panchayat, ignoring it."

Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO), the implementing agency, had earlier blamed the panchayat for the delay. "KITCO is now ready to finish work as panchayat took the initiative to acquire adequate land. It would be implemented as per the KSBB recommendations of 2007," he said. The tourism department had awarded the project to the KITCO. It plans a butterfly garden, fish park, bird sanctuary, floating restaurants, walkways, freshwater pond, bird watching facilities and rejuvenation of water bodies.