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Executive Summary

The Tourism Department of Kerala is using substantial funds allocated from the state shar under the Central Government of India’s Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme (TRP) to fund 20 tourism projects. In violation to the Planning Commission guidelines, these projects are not in tsunami-affected areas. Furthermore, the projects will bring hardly any benefit to local people, particularly marginalised affected fishing communities, and in many cases will place their land, livelihoods and traditional way of life under renewed threat. They are being done in the name of coastal protection while they are all for the development of tourism infrastructure and so-called beautification of beaches.

Background

The impact of the 2004 tsunami in Kerala was relatively limited compare to its neighbouring state, both in terms of loss of life and infrastructural damage. Still, over 170 people died and more than 2,450 were injured. Some 240,000 coastal residents were evacuated to temporary relief camps and approximately 13,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. Kerala’s fishing communities suffered the greatest impact, losing homes, fishing equipment vital to their livelihoods.

Tsunami damages

As per the request of the Government of India (GOI), the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations and the World Bank put together a joint team and undertook an assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact of the disaster in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory (UT) of Pondicherry. The report of this Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) has not reported any major damages in the tourism sector. The report says that the majority of the tourism-related infrastructure was damaged in Pondicherry, Karaikal and Kanyakumari.

Kerala Tourism was in the middle of its peak season when tsunami hit the Kerala coast. But the tourism industry in Kerala was mostly unaffected apart from few cancellations immediately after Tsunami. There was no major damage caused to the tourism infrastructure in the state. According to Kerala Tourism, tourist arrivals to Kerala have not been affected by the tsunami wave attack. The Kerala Tourism officials were very optimistic and even expected that trouble in Maldives, a major oceanic tourism spot, would enhance Kerala's destination-value.

Tsunami Fund diversion

In the wake of the tsunami, Union government of India set up a Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme (TRP) under Planning Commission. Under this programme sufficient funds have been distributed to affected state governments according to the requirements and projects submitted by them.

The government of Kerala has received 1441.75 crores (14,417.5 million Indian Rupees) of TRP funds for rebuilding damaged houses and infrastructure and for restoring livelihoods in the state. This includes Rs.497.68 crores (almost one third of the total outlay of 1441 Crores) under the head of Environment and coastal protection. This involves both soft and hard engineering structures, eco fencing, social forestry, training and research on coastal protection and early warning systems etc.

And another 100 crore (1000 million) has been allocated to State Tourism department (Kerala Tourism) to fund 20 beach tourism projects, even though the Joint Assessment Report had not mentioned any damage to the tourism infrastructure due to tsunami. 

Who really benefits?

Kerala Tourism initially named this project as ‘beach beautification’ schemes, using TRP funds. This prompted fish workers and coastal communities to protest against the diversion of the money meant for their rehabilitation and reconstruction. Kerala Tourism has since renamed the project as ‘coastal protection’ project (Ente theeram – ‘My Shore’) in an obvious attempt to soothe the protesters and bring the projects more in line with funding criteria. However, they are continuing the same activities under a different name. The activities proposed under the project are constructing walkways, building amphitheatre, pathways, installing flower pots, landscaping, cast iron lamp post, seat, dustbin, pavilion, beach centre, police aid post etc.Majority of the project locations are in locations which have been hardly affected by Tsunami. 

The fishing community has been questioning the rationale of using Tsunami funds for tourism projects. Many of the projects will directly conflict with the needs and interests of tsunami-affected communities. For example, construction of a 500 meter long artificial reef in Kovalam by Kerala Tourism and Harbour engineering department for water skiing, swimming and fish breeding grounds used for sport fishing for tourists will put 500 fishermen out of work. The local fisher folk fears that the fish breeding ground used for ‘sport fishing’ by tourists and will be of little use to the local fish workers. Local opposition groups have already raised their concern over the fact that waves deflected off the reef might cause increased erosion and infrastructural damage to neighbouring fishing communities. Kerala Tourism has never taken this concern in to account and they are going ahead with these projects, neglecting the opinion and concern of the coastal communities.

The department says that the artificial reef will protect the coast from sea erosion. If it is so, why is the government not trying it in Alappad which faced the worst of Tsunami effects in Kerala and still has major problems caused by sea erosion? Kovalam as such has no serious sea erosion problems compared to many other fishing villages. It is obvious that Kerala Tourism is trying to turn Kovalam into a round the year surfing destination and coastal protection is more of eyewash to get funds.

In the stated objectives of the project submitted by Kerala Tourism it is mentioned that alternate methods other than sea walls will be used to conserve the beaches. Are the proposed walkways, landscaping, cast iron lamp post, seats, dustbins, pavilion, beach centre, police aid post etc. to be considered as alternatives to sea walls for conserving the beach?

Furthermore, contrary to another stated objective by Kerala Tourism to develop an alternative livelihood for coastal communities through tourism for tsunami affected communities is deliberately being missed in the projects. The project formulation conceived the role of coastal communities as low paid servants and menial workers. Kerala Tourism contends that the tourism projects will provide large-scale employment to local people through an increase in beach tourism. However, tsunami survivors, particularly those from marginalised fishing communities, say they have not been consulted on the role that tourism should play in the rebuilding of their livelihoods.

No consultation with communities

Kerala Tourism has been marketing itself as a ‘Responsible Tourism’ destination and has selected 4 tourist destinations within the state to showcase its credentials. One of these selected destinations is Kovalam. A Destination-Level Responsible Tourism Committee (DLRTC) has been set up here with the participation of various stakeholders. According to Kerala Tourism’s own responsible tourism guidelines, the destination level committee will act as a critical group of local stakeholders who will be involved in the discussion, planning and monitoring of all tourism activities in their locality.

Despite these objectives, as well as the potential far-reaching consequences of the artificial reef project, Kovalam’s DLRTC has not been consulted on this or any of the other beach beautification schemes planned for the area. This shows the fake credentials of ‘responsible Kerala Tourism’.

Violations of Planning Commission guidelines

A closer look at the proposed projects will clearly reveal that Kerala Tourism has violated the guidelines issued by the Planning Commission. In the guidelines Planning Commission stated that the funds should be utilised only for rehabilitation of damaged beach resorts, roads, landscapes and tourist complexes. But the sites proposed by Kerala Tourism under TRP are not at all damaged by Tsunami. The immediate response of the Kerala Tourism after tsunami was that none of its beaches were affected by tsunami.

Environmental concerns

Serious concerns exist over the potential environmental impact of the proposed projects and questions remain over the level of coastal protection they will provide. Kerala Tourism claims it will use ‘eco-friendly’ methods in the developments. But the structures taking place are hard engineering structures. Structures like the ones given in these projects are already available in places like Sanghumugham, which is a popular domestic beach tourist destination in Trivandrum. These tourism structures are considered by scientists to be a contributing factor to the seasonal erosion occurring in Sanghumugham and neighbouring villages. 100s of members from the fishing community are taken to temporary shelters during this period. Kerala tourism has not done any serious EIA in these tsunami project sites.

Most of the projects proposed are violating the provisions of Coastal Regulation Notification (CRZ) which is meant to protect the ecologically sensitive coast. Apparently, most of the projects fall in the ‘no development zones’ of the CRZ.

Meanwhile, other parts of Kerala remain in urgent need of funds to support post-tsunami coastal protection and infrastructural repair. For example, Alappad and Arattupuzha witnessed the greatest loss of life in Kerala during tsunami. Sea erosion is an ongoing problem here. The planned coastal protection measures are yet to take place here and local people feel very vulnerable and are in constant fear of another disaster. However, those who have protested against the slow pace of rehabilitation and reconstruction work have reportedly been harassed by police and administration.

We demand that a detailed review of each tsunami project by a competent independent body with participation of all concerned stakeholders be initiated. The assessment should focus on the social, economic and environmental impact of these projects and all the tourism projects related works currently started should be stopped. The projects should adhere to TRP guidelines issued by Planning Commission to use tsunami rehabilitation funds for the reconstruction of tsunami-damaged areas and to rebuild and protect the lives and livelihoods of tsunami-affected communities. Ensure transparency and accountability in the reconstruction process by implementing a system that will allow members of the public to track and participate in how tsunami reconstruction money is being used. Explore opportunities for tsunami-affected communities to benefit from tourism beyond employment in menial, low paid roles. All other related government agencies working in tsunami affected areas should furnish complete information relating to Tsunami Reconstruction and rehabilitation.

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