Solution to Boat Jetty issue soon

KOCHI: The issues pertaining to the maintenance and development of Ernakulam Boat Jetty would soon come up for discussion at a meeting to be chaired by the Chief Minister, said Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar, here on Friday. He was speaking to reporters after visiting the jetty and its premises.  The minister said the means to solve the problems at the jetty, used by hundreds daily, could be worked out at the meeting to be attended by the officials of the departments concerned. The departments of Revenue, Water Transport and Tourism have been at loggerheads over the ownership of the land where the jetty has been constructed by the Tourism Department. Though a decision was taken in 2009 to hand over the ownership of the jetty to the Tourism Department, it is yet to be implemented. The dispute over the ownership rights has led to the neglect of the boat jetty.The minister said that a project for the beautification of the Shanmugham Road from the High Court Junction to Menaka, is on the cards. New jetties will be constructed along the Marine Drive, said Anil Kumar, who was accompanied by Hibi Eden MLA. The Ernakulam Boat Jetty was constructed on the land reclaimed by the Tourism Department using the funds allotted by the Union Government.  Given the tourism potential of the boat jetties in the state, at least three more boat jetties will be set up in Ernakulam, the minister said. “We are focussing on building more number of boat jetties between the High Court Junction and the Gateway Hotel. The plan will be incorporated along with the proposal to develop and renovate the tourism centres across the state,” the minister said.Considering the state of neglect of the Boat Jetty at Menaka, the minister assured that steps will be taken for its uplift. On the ongoing tussle over the ownership of the boat jetty, the minister said: “A high-level meeting will be held with the Revenue, Tourism and Water Resources ministers soon to solve the issue.” The minister held discussions with the private boat tourism operators and the Kerala State Water Transport officials. The operators expressed their willingness to give up the right to use the boat jetty if the Tourism Department provided an alternative arrangement.