The Nambikulam eco-tourism centre provides a golden opportunity for rural farmers to make up for their losses in agriculture, says a local resident. | Photo Credit: SP;SP - more-in The second-phase expansion of Nambikulam eco-tourism centre at Koorachundu in the district has got a fillip with the voluntary contribution of the required extent of land by local residents. For facilitating the speedy takeover of the land, documents have been handed over to the Tourism Department. The phase-2 expansion will mainly include the widening of a four-kilometre road connecting the hilly terrain located around 50 kilometres away from the Kozhikode city with the major rural roads. A spacious seminar hall, ropeway facility for attracting more domestic tourists and better comfort station facilities too have been included in the project. Koorachundu grama panchayat authorities say not less than 17 villagers have already handed over their consent letters to revenue authorities for the speedy implementation of the project. Around four acres of land are already with the government to go ahead with the development programmes, they add. K. Wilson, one of the residents who recently handed over land for the development project, says the rural farmers are considering the tourism project a golden opportunity to make up for their loss in agriculture. Widening of the existing road to the area will definitely bring some positive changes to the region, he hopes. Residents of the area also point out that the eco-tourism spot with its captivating view points and greenery has huge potential to attract even international tourists. Lack of proper facilities to accommodate visitors is the biggest hurdle which has to be addressed properly with the construction of tourist cottages and other short-stay facilities, they say. Binu John, another resident from the area, says that land pooling attempts too have gained momentum so as to reduce the burden of large-scale land acquisition on single owners. “If a person has to surrender his one acre of land for the project, then his neighbours, who own land closer to his property, also come forward to share a portion of their land with the man to compensate the loss,” he adds. A committee of the people’s representatives led by Balussery MLA Purushan Kadalundi is also actively working for the promotion of the tourism spot with more public investment. The committee members say the first priority will be on constructing a better road to the location which will naturally attract sightseers to the tourism spot.

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