KANNUR: The Kannur district administration is planning to introduce water sports in the rivers in the district to promote tourism. Simultaneously, it will also launch a cleaning drive in the rivers which are clogged with wastes, including plastic. The district collector will call a meeting with various stakeholders to get their opinions and suggestions to formulate the plans. The large-scale waste dumping in rivers is posing a huge ecological and health threat in Kannur. The mangrove vegetation has been badly affected by the waste dumping which has damaged its biodiversity. Kannur has more than 80 percent of the total mangrove areas in the state. Collector Mir Mohammed Ali told DC that the district has huge water tourism potential.
“Recently, I undertook a kayak journey through the Perumbra river to explore the possibilities of a water sports project. I got some breathtaking views and at the same time near the human habitat, I had to paddle through tonnes of disposable cups and plates, plastic bottles and packets carrying food, animal parts and human excreta. So, along with the launch of the tourism project, we need to start a cleaning drive too in the rivers. We will talk to the people living on both sides of the river to start the campaign,” he said.
Mir Mohammed AliValapattanam and Kuppam rivers are also listed for the tourism project, pending viability studies. The administration will identify spots where the water sports activities are possible and by October end, the DTPC would announce an expression of interest for kayaking and self-propelled boat journey projects. At present, the district has no water sports tourism projects under government agencies.
