[Reader-list] Failure of artificial reef: Probe sought

[T Peter]

By Express News Service
17 Sep 2010 12:24:31 AM IST

Failure of artificial reef: Probe sought
 THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation
(KSMTF) and Kerala Tourism Watch have demanded a comprehensive
judicial probe and scientific inquiry, as well as social audit,into
the failure of the multi-purpose artificial reef in Kovalam.
At a press conference here on Thursday, KSMTF president T Peter
demanded a judicial probe into the diversion of Rs 8 crore of tsunami
funds.
“Tsunami funds meant for coastal communities were wasted on tourism
infrastructure while the rehabilitation of tsunami-affected
communities still waits to be addressed,” Peter said.
“The Kerala Tourism officials promote ASR Limited, the New
Zealand-based MNC that designed the reef in Kovalam,” he said.
 “The reef has proven itself to be a failure in Kerala. However, more
reefs are being planned in India using Asian Development Bank and
World Bank funds in other States such as Goa, Maharashtra and
Karnataka,’’ Peter said.
He said the reefs were destroyed as soon as it was inaugurated.
‘’Two weeks after its inauguration, geo-textile bags, the key
component of the reef washed up at Kovalam and nearby seashores. The
shore seine fishing nets of Kovalam are yielding more damaged portions
of the artificial reef than fish resources.
“At the same time ASR Limited is engaged in aggressive propaganda and
lobbying for more reefs, highlighting the Kovalam artificial reef as
an indisputable model. The Kerala Tourism officials promote ASR
Limited as part of their tourism promotion agenda”, Peter said.
Sanjeev Ghosh, former Additional Director, Department of Fisheries,
demanded a judicial inquiry to expose the unholy nexus of bureaucrats,
scientists and MNCs.
Ghosh said that the nexus was evident in the manner in which the
project evolved over the years. The initial project proposal was for
3000 cubic metres and cost Rs 4 crore.
The project received a facelift midway, where its volume increased by
a third to 1,000 cubic metres while the cost doubled to Rs 8 crore.
 “Strangely,” he said, “the absurd calculation had been approved by
the Government agencies concerned.”
The coastal Marine Task Force of the State Planning Board had earlier
rejected the proposal for artificial reefs in Kerala.
“However, the Tourism Department had no inhibitions about approving
the same project using Tsunami funds,” Ghosh said. “These facts lead
us to look at the whole thing with suspicion,” he added.
K C Sreekumar, Theeradesha Samrakshana Samithi, Sajeer Abdul Rehman,
member, Kerala Tourism Watch also participated in the press
conference.

http://www.keralafishworkers.in
http://www.alakal.net