Eco-tourism project to start at Gandhi Smrithi Vanam

ALAPPUZHA: The state forest department is set to start an eco-tourism project at Gandhi Smrithi Vanam in Purackadu, Ambalappuzha. A team of officials from Kerala State Forest Development Corporation, Kerala Agricultural University, Fisheries College, Animal Husbandry Department and Rice Research Institute Mankombu visited Smrithi Vanam to prepare an action plan for the project.
Kerala state forest development corporation (KSFDC) is the implementing agency of the project. KSFDC chairman M Manoharan Pillai said the state had allotted Rs 2 crore for this project and Kerala forest research institute (KFRI) has completed a feasibility study for executing this initiative.
"The forest department owns 335 acres in Smrithi Vanam and 64 acres will be used for the first phase of the project. In the first phase, we will set up Kuttanad model village where tourists can experience the Kuttanad lifestyle. Holidaymakers can also learn the farming techniques of Kuttanad farmers and can enjoy Kuttanad food there,'' Pillai said.
"Historically important places like temple of Karumadikuttan (Buddha statue), Kumarakodi at Pallana - the final resting place of great poet Kumaranasan and Kunjan Nambiar memorial have also been included in the second phase of the project,'' he said.
"The first phase of the project will be completed in March 2013. Earlier the state government had promised the forest department that as many as 600 acres will be allotted for Smrithi Vanam project. However, the department got only 335 acres so far. We have already approached the state for getting the remaining land promised by the state government,'' district assistant forest conservator S Sreekumar said. The eco-tourism project will be executed by the forest department with the support of various government wings and a detailed project report will be submitted to the government on June 8 .
Gandhi Smirthi Vanam was a project fashioned by the state government with the support of the union government for promoting biodiversity in 1984.
The government had acquired 335 acres and laid the foundation stone for the project at Purackadu on October 2, 1984, however, it could not execute the project following strong opposition from some section of the people.
Hence, the land identified for the project remained useless since 1984.
Recently, forest minister K B Ganesh Kumar visited the area and directed the forest department to take adequate steps for protecting this place.