Summary:
“The tourism department had started ‘Cultural Mosaic’, a project to protect historic buildings in the area. KOCHI: At a time when Fort Kochi a venue of Kochi-Muziris Biennale has been witnessing a huge surge in tourist arrival, a section of people working in the tourism sector has come out against the tourism department for its failure in completing projects in the area.People under the banner of Tourism Promoters’ Association (TPA) have alleged that many tourism projects at Fort Kochi, which were started years ago, were still in its initial stage.“Even when international events such as Biennale are being conducted for the past few years and crores of money have been spent for its conduct, authorities are yet to complete many tourism projects,” said TPA general secretary Derson Antony.The members also raised complaints that many buildings of historical importance in and around Fort Kochi and Mattancherry have not been given proper protection. “Delay in finding suitable timber for restoring nets and getting fund for its procurment slow down the project. We hope to start work on Chinese nets soon,” said Nandakumar. Though restoration works of Chempitta Pally, Hari Shenoy Bungalow and Ariyittu Vazcha Kovilakam were started a few years ago, the works have not been completed yet,” said Antony..