THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is all set to blaze a new trail in the tourism sector with the State Government giving in-principle approval to the heli-tourism policy.
A network of chopper services within the State, making use of the four existing airports, and new ‘helistations’ at prominent tourist spots. This is what the policy envisions. It will be implemented through the PPP mode using private sector investment and the facilitatory support offered by the Kerala Government.
The Government has set only one condition to go ahead with the project: There should be no financial liabilities to the State exchequer. If the State is required to shoulder any financial liability, prior approval has to be obtained.
The policy envisages a facilitator role for the State while establishment of infrastructure and operation of the services linking tourist destinations and airports will be the responsibility of private players. An Expression of Intent (EoI) will soon be floated, inviting private players to channel investment into the project cashing on the new policy.
The policy also envisions setting up requisite infrastructure and establishment of service networks in three separate financing modes in association with private players.
In the first mode, Government will own the land while the private players will develop the infrastructure and ensure the operation of facilities.
The second mode will see private entities owning and operating heliports, helistations and helipads.
The third category envisages infrastructure development by the Government and manning of operations by private entities.
To start with, the Government will provide the lands. But setting up infrastructure and securing mandatory approvals from different Ministries, including permits and licences as required by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation, security for air operations will be the responsibility of the private players.
The sites suggested for helipads and helistations are :Varkala, Jatayupura, Ponmudi, Kollam, Munnar, Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Thekkady, Palakkad, Bekal and Wayanad.
Another condition is that the operators of heli-tourism services should agree to provide helicopters and supporting facilities, including manpower, for rescue of people and transportation of goods during emergency situations such as natural calamities, for rendering disaster relief, and for speedy transportation of human organs for patients in emergencies.
The nodal agency for coordinating and implementing the project will be the Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited under the Department of Tourism.
Meanwhile, opinion is sharply divided on the implementation of the seaplane project, another ambitious project of the Kerala Government. Environmentalists fear that the seaplane operations will disturb wild animals, including elephants, tigers and Nilgiritahr, besides aggravating human-wildlife conflicts. The aircraft may have to fly over the National Parks of Mannavanshola, Anamudi Sholai and Mathikettan Sholai and its eco-sensitive zones while approaching the Mattupetty reservoir. To avoid any disturbance to wild animals, the flight path and the height at which the planes would be operating must comply with the rules and regulations.
Senior officials, however, say there will be no impact on the wildlife population. It is also unlikely to affect the elephant population in Mattupetty, which has been exposed to anthropogenic disturbances. (IPA Service)
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