Ashtamudi lake waits for saviour

KOLLAM: A ride on the road along the banks of Ashtamudi Lake with the picturesque village of East Kallada on one side and the beauty of pristine waters on the other will be a splendid experience for tourists visiting the place as part of Ashtamudi tourism. The road which is a long pending demand of villagers for their easy access to Manroe Thuruthu still stays on paper. The proposed lake-side road is along the banks of Kanjirodu kayal, part of Ashtamudi lake in East Kallada, at an estimated cost of Rs 11.50 crore. The road that starts from Onambalam connects East Kallada with Manroe Thuruthu will be a major boost to Ashtamudi tourism. Harbour engineering department in Kollam is entitled to undertake the works.

“An amount of Rs 11.50 crore has been estimated during the financial year 2016-17. In the first phase, works will be done for an sum of Rs 4.40 crore starting with the construction works from Onambalam to Kakkattukadavu in Sinkarappalli. The works are also affected due to the scarcity of quarry materials in the district as well as the non-cooperation of contractors in undertaking government projects,” N. Vijayan, East Kallada panchayat president told DC. “The road which is nearly four kilometres in length will be of great importance to Ashtamudi tourism and also shortens the distance from East Kallada to Manroe Thuruthu and Kundara.”

The works will be completed in three phases with the first phase estimated at Rs 4.40 crore. “The project has been submitted to the government. The administrative sanction for the amount is yet to be received. The works on first reach can be commenced within two months of getting the nod. The first reach will span across Perayam and Muttamkadathukadavu,” G. Sivadasan, assistant engineer, harbour engineering, told this newspaper. The second and third phases could be started only with the beneficiaries contributing land for the proposed road without any dispute.