From: sumesh mangal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Marcus L. Endicott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 10:53:19 AM Subject: Re: DIVERSION OF TSUNAMI FUNDS FOR TOURISM
KERALA SWATANTRA MATSYA THOZHILALI FEDERATION (KERALA INDEPENDENT FISHWORKERS FEDERATION) http://www.keralafishworkers.org ===================================================================== PRESS RELEASE 18 October 2007, Thiruvanathapuram âDIVERSION OF TSUNAMI FUNDS FOR TOURISM LOBBY IN KOVALAM QUESTIONEDâ Plans by Kerala Tourism and the Harbour Engineering Department to construct an artificial reef in Kovalam, by using funds from the Central Government assisted Tsunami Rehabilitation Project, have come under fire from the fishing community. Reports indicate that a New Zealand based marine consultancy firm ASR âAmalgamates Solutions and Researchâ Ltd will be paid 4 crore rupees to construct a 500 metre long artificial reef adjacent to Kovalam beach. The city based Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) is reported to be in support of the project. Tourism department officials claim that the primary purpose of the artificial reef will be to break waves, thereby mitigating the potential impacts of another Tsunami. Therefore the Tsunami Rehabilitation money being tapped into. Tourism Department officials also claim that the reef will help promote tourism activities such as water skiing, surfing and swimming. Another plus is that the area encircled by the reef can be used as a fish breeding ground. The reef is to be constructed with geo-textile bags which will have a length of 50 metres and 5 metres in width. âThis is a clear cut case of Tsunami funds being diverted for the benefit of the tourism lobby in the stateâ, said T Peter, President of the Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation ( KSMTF ). âWe are raising fundamental questions here; Who wants the reef and why? And are there any benefits to the fishing communityâ, he questioned. On the contrary KSMTF argues that fishing communities in Kovalam are likely to lose their livelihoods as a result. Community based shoreâ"seine fishing in the area will be curtailed and at least 500 people will lose their livelihood options. âThe fish breeding ground will be used for âsport fishingâ by tourists and will be of little use to the local fishworkersâ, clarified Peter. Peter also said the role of institutions such as CESS supporting the project need to be examined. The ASR website has a CESS senior scientist and ASR Managing Director Dr. Kerry Black as co-authors in a paper. âThis is a potential case of conflict of interest and CESSâ scientists support for the project needs to be taken with a pinch of saltâ, he added. KSMTF in a statement said that âthere is a need for a careful, evidence based risk assessment of the potential social, economic and environmental benefits of artificial reefsâ. The Federation also stated that even if the artificial reef is able to break waves, the potential impacts on neighbouring villages such as Vizhigam and Panathura need to be assessed. There are cases of such artificial barriers diverting waves to nearby areas. Steps constructed at Shangumugham beach resulted in the diversion of waves and a nearby road being washed away. âWe oppose the mis-utilisation of Tsunami rehabilitation funds for the tourism industry. Public money should be used for public purposes and we demand that the Kerala Government withdraw the proposed reef project and instead consult with local communities to ascertain what their development needs areâ, concluded Peter. ===================================================================== For more information contact T Peter: + 91-9447429243. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
