Kochi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday the government is working on a comprehensive legislation on Munnar with the focus on its conservation as a hill station and development as a tourism destination.
“The government is working on a new law, keeping the special nature of Munnar,” the Chief Minister said while interacting with editors ahead of the Ascend 2019 meet here. “Munnar is such a place that it is unable to accommodate the tourism rush there. So, we may have to look for alternative models. Perhaps everybody may not be able to stay back there. Instead, they will have to visit the places of interest there and come back. These aspects will be taken care of in the new law.”
The Chief Minister’s statement assumes significance given the occasional skirmishes between officials and people’s representatives on the imposition of rules regarding construction.
The Chief Minister cited tourism as a focus area for the government to enhance its revenue, given that tax collection and central aid show a pattern of decline.
He said the new 620-km waterway connecting Kovalam in the south to Bekal in the north would, by itself, be a major tourism attraction. “The government is also working on other major tourism packages, including in the Malabar region, which will enhance the state’s tourism potential.”
On the investment scene in Kerala, the Chief Minister said entrepreneurs who run businesses in the state have raised no specific complaints though there is a perception that the state is not conducive for them. “However, there are certain factors such as Nokkukooli and demand for job in work sites have come to the notice of the government,” he said. “We are working with the labour unions to eliminate such practices. We will anyway deal very strongly with these issues.”
Industries minister E.P. Jayarajan, chief secretary Tom Jose and principal secretary (industries) K. Ellangovan also spoke.
