THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state tourism department is all set to implement the Rs 325-crore Malabar river cruise project , the first- of-its-kind venture in south India, which would offer 'themed' river cruising across eight rivers in Kannur and Kasaragod districts.Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will lay foundation stone for the project at a function to be held at Parassinikkadavu in Kannur on June 30, and the occasion will mark the commencement of the works of boat terminals and jetties under 17 sub-projects. "This will be totally a different tourism brand and will give a major boost to tourism in Malabar," tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran told reporters here on Sunday.Besides, the project once implemented, is expected to create two lakh new jobs in five-year period, the minister said. The government has already given administrative sanction for Rs 53 crore for the project. The state is also expecting Rs 100-crore aid from the Centre for realizing the project that would strictly follow a 'green architectural design'."The project will be implemented after bringing it strictly under the purview of all regulations which are going to be enacted through a new bill (Tourism Regulatory Authority Bill) to be presented in the coming session of the assembly. So, it will be environment-friendly project with proper waste management system, including sewerage treatment plants and biotoilets in place," Surendran said. Protection and expansion of mangroves in these rivers will be another agenda of the project, besides promotion of traditional crafts, industries and water transport.The project is being implemented in eight rivers Mahe, Anjarakkandy, Valapattanam, Kuppam, Perumba, Kavvayi/Valiyaparamba, Thejaswini, and Chandragiri. The cruise in each river will be based on a particular theme, the minister said. So there will be cruises based on themes, including martial arts, music, spices, birds and agriculture, Theyyam and Yakshaganam, besides a model village cruise on Valiyaparamba lake (part of Kavvayi river). The works include that of boat terminals at Parassinikkadavu, Pazhayangadi and Karayadu, and other facilities, including jetties at Peringathoor, Chambadu, Dharmadam, Parappuram, Madakkal, Kottappuram, New Mahe and Kakkadavu.Tourism director P Bala Kiran said the tourist flow to Malabar would get a boost once the Kannur international airport is commissioned.

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