Growth matters: Kozhikode is the third most urbanised district in the State, but it is the fastest growing urban district as well. | Photo Credit: K_RAGESH more-in The economic base of Kozhikode district is shrinking fast even as urbanisation is spreading to the interiors, the district spatial plan shows. The document, prepared by the Department of Town and Country Planning, says that the district’s economy is in an alarming situation, with the production sector, including agriculture, showing a declining trend and more than 50% of the urban population depending on the service sector. To arrest the decline, the economic planners will have to evolve multiple development strategies. Kozhikode is the third most urbanised district in the State, but it is the fastest growing urban district as well. The latest district spatial plan showed that the percentage of urban population is 67.15% while the State average is 47.72%. Strengthening economy “Several steps should be taken to strengthen the economic base of the district that promotes development in the production sector and service sector, especially trade and commerce, tourism, health and education with special emphasis on new age industries,” K.V. Abdul Malik, Regional Town Planner, told The Hindu on Wednesday. Promotion of sustainable urban development and tourism within the district through initiatives and conservation of environmentally sensitive areas and heritage structures should be the goals of the district. Local economic development should be enhanced and ensured with equal focus on social development and achieving smart governance, he said. Development objectives On development objectives, Mr. Malik said the focus should be on attracting investments by demarcating special economic zones and providing infrastructure to all sectors for large scale development such as Beypore port, IT parks, Knowledge Park, Marine Park and Nirdesh. A strong transportation network integrating road, rail and waterway is required to boost economic development. In fact, the district spatial plan has suggested numerous strategies for economic growth through optimum utilisation of resources. One of these is developing sustainable agriculture involving three aspects such as economically viable production system, maintenance of natural resources and provision of natural amenities. Conversion of fallow and waste land into agricultural land and restricting the diversion of prime agricultural lands for other purposes had been suggested, said Mr. Malik. Various measures have to be adopted to develop fisheries sector for local economic growth in the district. “Kozhikode has to increase salt water fishing harvest, train inland fish farming and improve equipment availability to fishermen. To accelerate growth, emphasis should on promoting fish markets, export and import of marine products, aquaculture farms and development of fishing harbours and boat building yards,” he said. The development goals have been derived based on the findings of various studies including future urban profile, development zones, hierarchy of settlements and future transportation in the district.

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