Munnar masterplan to be broadened

India Express Buzz
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 1:10 PM IST

Byju Aryad
First Published : 30 Jun 2009 02:58:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 30 Jun 2009 10:07:28 AM IST

KOCHI: Six panchayats surrounding Munnar will be included in the masterplan for the development of Munnar to ensure that the ecological balance will not be disturbed when tourism development spreads to satellite towns.

There are reports that the satellite towns are also being developed as tourist destinations and more tourists are flocking these areas.

Several homestays and resorts have come up at Adimali, Anachal, Chittirapuram and Kallar finding a solution to the lodging problems after the demolition of illegal structures in Munnar.

P Vijayachandran, senior consultant, Consultancy Engineering Services India Pvt Ltd, who was entrusted with the preparation of the masterplan, told Express that a detailed report will be submitted to the Government by the end of August.

Several experts are working on it and the report will be prepared in consultation with all those who are involved in the tourism sector.

The detailed report will be prepared for six panchayats covering 914 sq km.

It will be ensured that the construction work will not disturb the ecosystem and preserve the heritage of the hills, he said.

The possibility of establishing a rope-way rather than widening roads will also be considered in the report.

When more tourists arrive, the pollution rate might increase and there will be suggestions for reducing it in tourist destinations in Idukki.

There will also be suggestions for preserving the National Parks at Munnar. Utmost care have to be taken during construction activities in these areas and the report will elaborate on the specifications for taking up construction activities.

Vijayachandran said that threefourths of the field survey has been completed. Discussions are on with people's representatives and experts and it will be completed before August.

According to Kerala Tourism
(Conservation and Preservation of Areas) Act, 2005, all further development activities in the high influence zone (HIZ) have been banned until a proper masterplan was prepared and approved by the State Government.

Munnar was divided into three zones.

The most-sensitive or the high influence zone falls within a radius of 7 km from the urban core.

It includes the highly endangered areas like Peerumedu, Udumbanchola, Devikulam and others like Pallivasal, Pothamedu, Letchmi and Periavauri. Zone-II or Moderate Influence Zone (MIZ) joins those areas that fall within a radius of 25 km from the boundary of Zone-I. It includes Rajamala, Mattupetty and Chinnakkanal.

No industries will be allowed in the area except agro-based non-polluting ones. Zone-III or Low Influence Zone (LIZ) include areas that are least touched by unbridled development.