K C Santhoshkumar

In the 1990's, World Tourism Organization projections indicated that global international tourist arrivals would increase at around 4.8% p.a. from around 500 millions in 1993 to 661 millions by the year 2000, and then by 3.6% p.a. to 937 million by the year 2010. The South Asia region, within which India is located, received 3.2 million international arrivals, i.e. 0.7% of global tourist arrivals in the 90's.

After analysing this scenario, the Government of India concluded that more destinations should be identified for integrated resort development. This was implemented by the 'Special Tourism Area' programme aimed at development and popularisation of 'Beach Tourism' in the country.
'Special Tourism Area ' scheme was launched along with the state governments to attract investment in hitherto unknown destinations, which held immense beach tourism potential. Along with Sindudurg in Maharashtra, Diu in Damen and Diu, Konarak in Puri (Orissa) and Mahabalipuram-Muttokadu in Tamil Nadu, Bekal in Kasargod district in North Kerala was also identified as a potential area for "Resort Tourism' and for planned development.

Star hotels equipped with conference and convention facilities, shopping arcades, besides development of airports catering to the needs of charter flight operations included in the development of these 'Resort Tourism' areas.

Bekal: A Special Tourism Area

Government of India in an effort to develop potential beach locations, which could be developed as international standard beach destinations had the western cost, surveyed in 1990. The survey identified Bekal the village in Kasaragod district in northern most part of Kerala as potential locale for the development of beach resort destination.

Bekal is unarguably one of the best potential beach resort destinations in South Asia. India has a very few comparable locations that offer the diversity of attractions to be found in Bekal. Yet, unlike most other existing resort destinations which are close to a major urban centre, and thus already over developed, the Bekal area is still virgin and pristine, offering the opportunity to set up a new planned resort destination.

Bekal is in Hosdurg taluk of Kasargod, northern most district of Kerala state. The Bekal Fort, an ancient monument and a major attraction to domestic tourists, was built in between 1645 and 1660 by Shivappa Naik of Ikkeri dynasty. Another history says it was built by Kolathiri rajas and later captured by Shivappa Naik. The Fort was occupied by Haider Ali of Mysore and Tippu Sultan. Then it was incorporated into dominions of English East India Company and to British rule, later.

In 1992 the Government of India declared Bekal as "Special Tourism Area" for integrated resort development. The Govt. of Kerala formed Bekal Development Authority to develop a Tourism led Urban Infrastructure- tourism resorts, villas, hotels, shopping arcades, recreational facilities and infrastructure facilities like roads, power, water supply, sanitation, lighting, etc including housing for the workforce in the Special Tourism Area. A company as Govt. of Kerala undertaking, Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Ltd. (BRDC) was also set up to interface with the tourism industry. “But later Bekal Development Authority was put on a back burner since it is easier for BRDC to raise funds for the project” (Vikram Raj, BRDC).

Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Ltd (BRDC) was formed in 1995 with the Chief Secretary to Government of Kerala as Chairman, senior Government officials as Directors and Managing Director to develop Bekal as an international standard 'Beach Tourist Destination'. BRDC focuses on planned, environment-friendly and ecologically viable methods of development. The company concentrates on setting up comprehensive tourism infrastructure, at the same time ensuring that the development is beneficial to the local community (www.bekal.org)

It is envisaged that BRDC will support and assist at every level of a venture in Bekal. The Bekal project is planned, orchestrated and coordinated by BRDC observing specific parameters on the carrying capacity of the region, sustainable limits, architectural guidelines, environmental safeguards and coastal regulations.

Besides identifying the potential resort sites, BRDC's role includes strengthening the existing infrastructure i.e. roads, power, supply, sanitation, lighting, water supply etc. inviting investors and promoters, devising strategies for marketing Bekal as a planned tourism destination as well as coordinating developments at all stages. BRDC will also be responsible for the speedy implementation of the project.
Thereafter Government of Kerala entrusted a multidisciplinary team consisting of planners, landscape architects, urban and transport specialists, structural consultants and tourism leisure industry experts with the preparation of project blue print for the development of Bekal.

Project Plan:

A team led by N.M.Salim of N.M.Salim and Associates, Kozhikode prepared a Techno-Economic Feasibilty Report. The team included experts from Philippines and Australia in the field of management and design of tourism projects apart from experts in the fields of planning and environment designs, transport and urban planning from India. They also prepared a Tourism led Urban Structure plan and both reports were submitted in 1995.

Data on Natural Environment, socio cultural profile, physical infrastructure, land use patterns and market were done as part of Techno – Feasibility report. A land capability analysis and Environment Impact Assessment were also done. The report observed that “India has few comparable beach locations that offer the diversity of attractions to be found in Bekal area. Unlike most other existing resort destinations which are normally close to a major urban centre, and thus already over developed, the Bekal area is still largely undeveloped and pristine, offering opportunity to develop a new age integrated resort community at the location. In essence, the Bekal area has the same potential as the island of Bali in Indonesia, where development has focused on beach resorts supported by a diverse set of natural and cultural attractions”(2-107, Techno-Feasibility Report, Tourism led Urban Structure Plan, 1995).

In the EIA, as the potential long term impacts, the report enumerates resource depletion, change in eco-system structure, water and air pollution, toxicity: species/habitat loss, marine life entanglement, eutrophication of water bodies, ground water depletion and contamination, increase in exotic species and displacement of endemic species, degradation of historic and cultural sites and change in life style of the local population. Almost all are sited as short term impacts (4-5 and 6, Techno-Feasibility Report, Tourism led Urban Structure Plan, 1995). In short the factors that make Bekal a highly potential destination will be destroyed in a short period of time.

The Tourism led urban Structure Plan studied the project area, four panchayats, prospecting for possible sites for resorts, hotels, villas, recreational facilities and housing. Ajanoor, Pallikkere, Udma and Chemnad panchayats comprising a population of 1,51,255 (1991 census) in a land area of 130.56 sq. km, giving a population density of 1158.5 per sq.km. This is double the population density, 538 per sq. km. as per 1991 census, of the Kasargod district. Agriculture and fishing are the largest economic activities of in this region.

The Plan study identified eight highly potential resort sites along the coast in a 10 km stretch from Chithari backwaters to Kalnad backwaters, respectively south and north of Bekal Fort. All these, except two, straddle either the rivers or back waters of this region. And another seven were identified in inland areas for development. Apart from this, certain other pockets have been earmarked in the midlands for the ancillary development accompanying resorts, primarily in the form of housing, commercial zones and service infrastructure.

It is proposed to have 3000 resort units with or without international airport in Bekal as maximum carrying capacity, in view of limited land capability. This included golf villas, beach focused, and convention centre in deluxe category, hotels, villas and cottages in 3 and 4 star categories and hotels and inns in budget category. All in almost equal proportion but deluxe category getting 2/3rd of the land area marked for development. The total area needed for the above development is 159.02 ha.

Employment generated in the plan period is estimated that 7290 direct employment and an indirect employment generation, at the ration of 6:1 to the direct employees, make 43,740. The total is 51,030 and an 85% of these will be taken up the local unemployed which numbers 100,000 now.
The increased population will necessitates a housing strategy which estimates that a total of 10,267 housing plots will be needed in various categories like emigrant workers settlement, low income group, middle income group and higher income group requiring a land area of 265.4 ha including for ancillary facilities by the year 2011. Six sites are identified for this purpose.

It is estimated that the water demand by 2011 is estimated to be 47 million litres per day (MLD) and a quantity of 38 MLD of waste water need to be treated by the same year. 58 tonnes of solid waste will be generated per day by the year 2011. A water supply project, Kacheri River-a tributary of Cahandragiri River as source is planned. Facilities for treatment of waste water and solid waste are the responsibilities of BRDC.

These developments are planned in two phases, the first from 1997 to 2001 and the second from 2001 to 2007. Each phase is further phased into two of two years each for details. Another four years are given in the second phase to BRDC to complete the over all objectives of the project including marketing of the project. Thus while the total constructions in the second phase is to be complete by 2007, the BRDC gets four years more to complete the project in a total expected cost of Rs.246.94 crores.

The sources of finance are equity (Rs.27 crores), term loan (Rs.83 crores) and accruals by sales and leasing of properties (Rs.136.94 crores). A net surplus of Rs.334 crores at the end of 16 years is expected after deducting gross operating expenses; at the international rate of return 33.46 percentages on equity.

A newspaper report of that period said, “In the initial plan, it was announced that1000 acres of land will be required for the project and Rs.1000 crores is the investment. And according to the master plan prepared in 1995 by Kozhokode based N.M. Salim and Company, there were golf course and villas in this township. According to their survey, less than 100 houses only need to be acquired for the project. The area from Chithari Beach to Kalanad river, 10KM in length and and one kilometer in width was surveyed for this purpose. The first five star hotels will be constructed in 1997. The entire population of these four panchayats, one lakh, could get jobs in the project” (Malayala Manorama, 4/6/95 - Master Plan for Bekal is ready by Jose Grace).

Amendments to the Plan

In the first week of July, 1996 Kerala State Tourism Minister E. Chandrsekharan nair said in the assembly that the report prepared by the N.M.Salim and Associates for Bekal Tourism Project has been dropped; if the suggestions were implemented the CRZ laws will be violated. The project report was prepared without considering the CRZ laws which was in force then also. The BRDC lost Rs.55 lakhs which was paid for the report.

In August 1996, BRDC brought out a executive summery of Bekal Tourism Project with amendments to the detailed project report of March 1996. In this it says, “the project envisages the following activities within the development area:
1.Identification, acquisition and development of potential resort sites.
2.Strengthening of infrastructure through investment in roads, water supply, sanitation, solid waste disposal and power.
3.Development of housing sites to cater to the increased demand.
4.Devising strategies for marketing Bekal as a tourist destination.

BRDC intends to acquire 268 ha. of land in the development area, develop and sell the same as resort and housing plots and provide a network of improved and wider roads, water supply system and waste management system in the area”(Bekal Tourism Project, Executive Summery, August 1996, BRDC.)
The project span is reduced to 10 years (1996-2005). “Of the 278 ha. being acquired, 24 ha. will be earmarked for common facilities, 178 ha. for resort sites and 75 ha. for housing sites. The eighteen short listed sites” ”(Bekal Tourism Project, Executive Summery, August 1996, BRDC.). A total of 3154 resorts units in various categories are expected to come up by 2005.

Financial return is expected from the supply of water, treatment of solid waste and sanitation. By 2004 water supply capacity will be built up to 36 MLD to cater to the demand upto the year 2011 and beyond. Small sewage treatment plants of a combined capacity of 16 MLD will be installed to meet the sanitation requirement of the core area. For solid treatment and management, a plant of 30 metric tones will be built by 2003.

The cost of the project is estimated to Rs.162.09 crores with Rs.63.89 crores for land, Rs.45.64 crores for water and Rs.21.27 crores for roads. It is expected that the sale of land will bring Rs.393.85 crores and a Rs.250.22 crores after all expenses as net profit.

Implementation

The BRDC web site says that “BRDC conducted systematic surveys of the region through CESS (Centre for Earth Science Studies) and has developed 76 hectares (189 acres) of land that is ideal for setting up resorts”(www.bekal.org).
“The carrying capacity studies of the region revealed that the six sites acquired for the Bekal Project can accommodate up to 500 units. The resorts will be Star / Deluxe category Resorts” (www.bekal.org).

The site will be given to the potential developer on long-term lease basis for resorts and other tourism purposes for 30 years, with an option of renewal”(www.bekal.org).
Inquiry with the BRDC brought out the following.
“Initially it was planned to acquire 600 acres of land but since majority of those lands fall into CRZ III could not be developed. Only 220 acres of land was acquired at seven sites and out this 185 acres at six sites were leased out to private companies for construction. Out of these two resorts are expected to be complete by the end of 2007. A beach park has been developed in 25 acres acquired in the south of Bekal Fort at a cost of Rs.2.5 crores.

A water supply scheme of 7 MLD capacities is being completed in Kacheri River at the cost of Rs.15 crores. Out of this, 4 MLD is for public and 3 MLD is for the resorts. The panchayats are asked to lay distribution pipes. Roads and Hi-tension electricity are provided by BRDC to resorts. The treatment facilities for solid waste and waste water have been shelved and the individual resorts are asked to look after these issues in the light of financial burden that could accrue to BRDC.

All six sites are handed over for development on a 30 year renewable lease contract. Of the six, three has direct access to beach front. Three sites are in Udma panchayat and one each in Chemnad and Ajanoor panchayats. One is in both Pallikere and Ajanoor Panchayats. CGH Earth and Air Travels Enterprises from Kerala, Globlink Hotels from Jamshedpur, Khanna Hotels Pvt. Ltd from Mumbai, Bharat Hotels Ltd. From Delhi and Holiday Inn group from UAE are the promoters of the resorts in Bekal.

Only 14 families are displaced from the land acquired. Most of the land was coconut groves and paddy and tobacco fields. They were given a negotiated price for land from Rs.3000 to 15,000 per cent. (Cent is one hundredth of an acre.) Five cents of land was given to the ones who lost the house and the cost of the lost house. A transportation cost of Rs.22, 000 was given to take the materials of the building and the belongings.

The Bekal Fort Beach Park is lease out to a charitable society, Kerala Tourism Development Society, for a three year lease. The visitors need to pay to enter. Estimated visitors of 3 lakhs visit the park annually.

The BRDC has taken over and renovated the Rest House inside the Fort which was with the State PWD and now transferred to State Dept. of Tourism. But the ASI to whom the fort belongs to is not happy about a tourism facility inside the ancient monument. It is yet to decide the future of investment of lakhs of rupees by BRDC on the Rest House.

The BRDC has requested the land now belong to Primary Health Centre in Pallikere for development of a Health Tourism facility. It might be transferred to them soon” (Vikram Raj, Thanal, BRDC Facilitation Centre near Bekal Fort).

The other side

The Bekal Tourism project implementation by BRDC has miles away from the prepared Techno-Feasibilty study and Toursim led Urban Infrastructure plan. The projects now BRDC is trying hard to implement is a miniscule part of the Plan that was prepared at a cost of 55 lakhs in 1995 by an international team of experts even though it was highly ambitious.

A total of 14 resort sites have been decreased to six and them only in the coast. The approximate calculation of around 3000 resort units has reduced to 500 units. Five housing sites are not mentioned now.
The revised project proposal proposed treatment plants for both solid wastes which could be used by local house holds also and waste water. These are missing. “In the water supply scheme, the laying of distribution lines is now put on the concerned panchayats. In the case of roads also the panchayats are asked to pitch if the road is useful to the local population” (A.Balakrishnan, President, Pallikere Panchayat). So much about a project which is proposed to provide amenities to the people through Special Tourism Area development.

The land taken over is ecologically very sensitive being at or close to estuaries. Altering the land-scape, introducing exotic species of flora for gardens and golf courses use of chemicals and pesticides, and constructions on the banks and near the mouth of estuaries and rivers can cause irreversible damages. There are marshy areas in at least in Resort site (RS) No: 2 and 5 where sea water reaches during high tide. And except one or two, all of them are in CRZ III. They are waiting either exemption from or repeal of CRZ law (Ajit, Site Engineer, M/s. Khanna Hotels Pvt. Ltd.) to start the construction. The Beach Park has come up right on the high tide line violating CRZ law and at times waves lash at the compound walls.

The acquisition of paddy fields and coconut plantations has rendered people who were surviving working in these lands have rendered jobless. “The paddy fields in the Resort site 2, used to yield paddy three times a year. After acquisition at least 50 people lost their employment which was there round the year in those fields and now tends to look for other avenues for livelihood” ( Kalyani, Chithari kadappuram).

At the estuary of Kalanad backwaters around 100 fishermen do fishing from December to May season for prawns and fishes. Now the BRDC RS: 6 and 7 which are on the banks of this estuary where construction of resorts is progressing have started to fence their property. They have acquired and bought land along the banks of the backwaters to connect their property to the beach which is almost a kilometer away and now they are forcing people to sell the land at the beach front to them. Some among eight families in Thannipalla, which is around five acres in total, are considering selling their homestead which is below a cliff to Holiday Inn Resorts. Once the purchase of beach front and fencing is complete, the fish workers would not have the access to the estuary for fishing. It will be a livelihood loss with an average income of Rs.350 per day during the season (Usman, Thannipalla, Chembarikka). “There is issue of denial of access to people to back waters with Holiday Inn Resorts” ( E.Narayanan, Vice President, Chemnad Panchayat).
The BRDC gave five cents of land to the evicted families nearby to their old homestead. But only one third remained in the area. And now those same households are facing either by out by the Resort site leaser (near RS: 5) or imminent eviction by BRDC (RS: 2).

Land is acquired, and 18 house holds are evicted, for BRDC at the RS: 2. All of them are Muslims and backward caste families of lower economic strata. Their 4.7994 ha. of land will be evicted on a notice served on them on 11/11/2005 in the name of another project. They have given a month time to move. Till now they are not told about their rehabilitation package.

“Resorts are buying land adjacent to their leased property at enormous prices which is creating an unnatural rise in price of which is making people to sell their land and move away from their own villages. The neighbours are indirectly threatened by the resorts with the consequence of having a tourist resort nearby to sell their houses and move. Two house holds have sold their homesteads of seven and half cents and three and half acres of land to M/s. Khanna Hotels Pvt. Ltd.”(Santha, W/o, Kariyan, Kappil kadappuram). This creation of exclusive conclaves of huge area is a threat to the local people and their livelihoods which is depended on common property resources and jobs available on agricultural land around them. This could be a threat to national and social security as these places at the mouth of rivers and backwaters to the sea near international shipping channels and owned by all kinds of people.

BRDC is also trying its best to poach public land which are with Departments, Panchayats or common properties and hand over to resorts. “The BRDC has promised to hand over the Kodi beach which is a small three acre beach, covered in all three sides by a cliff, across the estuarine mouth to the RS: 5 of M/s. Khanna Hotels to them. They have already drawn plan in their first phase of development to build a sunset view point and garden” (Ajit, Site Engineer, M/s. Khanna Hotels Pvt. Ltd.). This place falls within the high tide line and a common property.

“BRDC has lobbied with State Health Department to hand over the picturesque place occupied by Primary Health Centre in Pallikere to them for developing health tourism resort. Pallikere Panchayat has objected to it and they promised suitable compensation by BRDC. Another 60 cents of land belonging to Revenue Dept. and used by people to run a library in Thachangad has been taken over by BRDC” (A.Balakrishnan, President, Pallikere Panchayat).

The only tourism facility that has come up as part
of more than a decade long existence of BRDC is Bekal Fort Beach Park. It gives jobs to less than 15 people and all of them are not from the same area. The BRDC promised employment to more than 51,000 people. But even after the completion of the plan period it is still a dream.
“Pallikere panchayat is fighting with both BRDC and leasors of the Beach Park and the Bekal Beach Camp to pay tax. But it is of no consequence so far” (A.Balakrishnan, President, Pallikere Panchayat).

“BRDC do not know or monitor other tourism activities planned in the area” (Vikram raj, BRDC). BRDC has taken up the responsibility of planned implementation of tourism projects in the Bekal Special Tourism area. But it is ignorant and disinterested about other possible projects like proposed water theme park in Periyattadukka.
In the revised plan (August 1996), the project period is stipulated as from 1996 to 2005. The first hotels in all categories were to come up in 1998; but none of the hotels have completed construction as of August 2007.

Protests against Bekal Tourism Project

“The Govt. of India, in an effort to identify potential beach locations which could be developed as coastal tourist destinations, had the western coast surveyed in 1990. M/s. John Hunt and Associates, USA, who conducted the survey, identified Bekal, a sleepy village in North Kerala as the ideal locale with the potential for being developed as a beach resort destination” (Bekal Tourism Project, Executive Summary, August 1996).

The protest against the project started, even before the announcement of the ‘Bekal Special Tourism Area’, in October 1991. The Secretary of the Sree Kurumba Araya Samajam of Kasargod district had sent a memorandum to the Minister of Tourism, Govt. of India and copies to various people in State Govt. too, demanding to drop, the acquisition of 300 ha. of land in the proposed area and also the project. The Araya Samajam pointed out that the project would adversely affect 25,000 fisher people living and fishing in the area. They also argued that the fishing landing centre south of Bekal Fort is the only landing place for them during monsoon when sea rough. The fishing activity during monsoon alone contribute Rs.200 crore in form of foreign exchange annually to the exchequer since catch is prawn. They also said that the tobacco cultivation will come to an end once the land is acquired for the project.

In February 1992, Bekal Fort Action Committee formed in Sharjah by the expatriates from the area, submitted a memorandum requesting to stop the project. They also sited the same reasons.

Kasargod District Prathikarana Vedi and Sharjah-Pallikere Citizen’s Forum jointly organized a convention to start the campaign against the Bekal Tourism Project on 20th May 1993 demanding that the project be scrapped. The participants were of the opinion that the project would destroy the ecology and culture of the region besides adversely affecting the fisher people.

Pallippuzha Nurathulabba Federation in May 1993 demanded the scrapping of proposed Bekal Tourism project which will cultural and moral degradation of the region.
Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad issued a statement in the first week of January 1994 expressing concern over the proposed Bekal Tourism Project. K.R.janardhanan said that the proposed tourism centre is modeled on the lines of Goa beach resorts with “such evils as flesh trade, fun and frolic which debased our cultural heritage”. The statement called for strong resistance to thwart the move. He said that the Govt. is bowing to the pressure from the travel agencies and big hotel groups in the country.

0n May 11, 1995 a convention was organised in Bekal fort to launch the struggle against the proposed Bekal Tourism project. Poetess Smt. Sugatha Kumari inaugurated the convention. Indian National Social Action Forum women volunteers were present. The Kasargod District Prathikarana Vedi was the organisers.

On December 2nd, 1995 EQUATIONS stated that the Bekal project is coming up violating the CRZ rules. The KSSP also expressed their fears about the socio-cultural impact of the proposed beach resort tourism, drawing lessons from Goa.
Dr.K.K.N. Kurup, academician and writer raised objections against Bekal Project on the grounds of national security. Bekal Action Committee led by Dr. Surendranath anounced that the Action Committee would file a petition against project in the High Court of Kerala. He said close to 25,000 people including fisherpeople, tobacco cultivators and farmers, will be thrown out their lands. Local unit of Araya Samajam and Coastal Farmers Action Commmittee will be part of the struggle.(Indian Express-Kasargod - 17/12/95- Bekal Tourism Centre running into fresh row.)

The Dheevara Sabha and the Bekal Protection Council filed a case in the Kerala High Court against the Bekal Tourism Project. The petition argued that the project is a threat to national security as it is only twenty kilometers away from Ezhimala Naval Academy and the project is aimed at foreign tourists.

Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad constituted a team to study Bekal Project in December 1995 and the team demanded that all facts regarding the project to be made public. They also expressed the need to do an in depth study of impact of the project before going ahead with the land acquisition in the area. They said the Govt. is planning to acquire land and sell of this land for higher profit to private companies which is not good for the villagers in Bakel.

Chembarika Samskarika Vedi stopped the survey of land to be acquired for the project in Chembarika area under the leadership of Ahsraf Chembarika. Earlier in January, local people had stopped foreigners coming to Bekal and issued warning against visiting the place.

In May 97 Kasargod Sub Divisional Magistrate issued arrest warrant to 30 activists under IPC 107. It was a calculated move by the Govt. machinery to destroy the people campaign against the Project. The activists were campaigning and protesting against the building of facility centre in front of the Bekal Fort flouting the laws regarding the Archeology and CRZ. And on 17th May 1997, the Anti Tourism Struggle Committee started the relay sit-in at Bekal.

Muslim Juma-ath committees in the project area had taken position against the project. There were difference of opinion and protest among Muslim League and Left Front regarding the project.

“There were arrests of the activists when they protested and tried to stop the construction of Facility centre built by the BRDC flouting the CRZ law and the people were against it since it was near the mosque. The case was charged and they kept in the jail for three days. It was a blow to the struggle because this many young people withdrew from struggle since many of them were expecting to go abroad and a case against would have hampered their prospect of migration to gulf.

When Tourism Minister E. Chandrasekharan Nair came for the inauguration of the Facility Centre, he had a close door discussion with the Juma-ath leaders and they withdrew from the struggle after that. Both ruling Left and Muslim League in the opposition were for the project then it was easy for them to pressurize the local leadership of their respective cadre.

The split in the Bekal Protection Committee and formation of Bekal Action Committee by certain activists also played a negative role dampening the spirit of the protest. The change in perspective of certain NGOs who were supporting the protest was also another factor which influenced the course of the protest. By then a case was filed in the Kerala High Court. But the lawyer did not take much interest in pursuing the case. The case is still pending in the court and recently in 2005 it was transferred to another lawyer” said Dr.D.Surendranath, Convener, Bekal Protection Committee.

The strategy of the BRDC management, the reduced number of displacement per plot of land, acquisition of land from absentee landlords and slow and dispersed acquisition land both in time and distance between plots caused the campaign to cool down.

Conclusion

The proposed Bekal Special Tourism Area, fifteen years after coming into being, is far away from the announced objectives of creating a planned, eco-friendly and sustainable ‘Beach Resort Tourism’ destination. It was also envisaged to provide benefits of urbanization with accompanying infrastructure development and employment generation.
Apart from these the following issues are there:

1.Ecologically very sensitive areas have been acquired and handed over for construction. River mouths, banks of estuaries, marshy flood lands which get inundated during high tide, paddy fields, and beaches in the high tide line. Construction is only possible by violating the CRZ laws.
2.The commons and lands where the lowest in the social strata eke out their livelihood have been handed over for resort development. Their access to commons also restricted by compound walls and attitudes. This is going to adversely affect hundreds indirectly. They are going to be thrown away into the growing insecurity of competition in the society for survival.
3.The endemic bio-diversity is going to be adversely affected by the destruction of habitat by construction, eutrophication, pollution and introduction of exotic species.
4.Since there are no responsible arrangement by BRDC for the disposal of huge quantities of waste generated from the Resorts will be deposited in the nearby areas, rivers, beaches and vacant land, since it is cheaper than treating it. The Panchayats will be forced to find solution for this problem without getting any benefit from the industry which has tax holidays and other subsidies.
5.Withdrawing huge quantities of water for Resorts are going to have negative impact on Chandragiri River from where the water is drawn. It is suspected that there would not be enough water to meet the capacity of the water supply project. It will definitely lead to a conflict between the local residents and the Resorts.
6.There are possibilities that Resorts will resort to drawing underground water heavily to cut down the intake of water from centralized water supply system either due to scarcity or to cut down expenses or both. This will lead to ground water depletion in a highly saline water contaminated area.
7.The promise of development of common infrastructure by BRDC which will benefit all has come to naught. BRDC is presurising the Panchayats to contribute to the development of these. They act as if they are only responsible for Resorts alone.
8.BRDC is taking over commons, revenue lands, land of public institutions and institutions itself to hand over to private companies for tourism development.
9.The promise of more than fifty thousand jobs by 2007 is big zero. But it has caused loss of jobs for few hundreds in the area – fishing, paddy and tobacco cultivation.
10.The concept of Planned Tourism led Urban Infrastructure could not be seen any where now near BRDC. The Resorts brought by the company themselves are buying out land around them for their expansion beyond the plan of BRDC. It now keeps its eyes closed towards these disturbing developments.
11.BRDC itself, from its inception, lobbied for changing laws like CRZ which are for the protection of basic resources on which the Tourism thrives.

In short Bekal Special Tourism Area and BRDC, the company formed to develop and mange it, are not only non starters but are cutting the branch on which they sit endangering the people live around.

(This report was prepared as part of research study conducted by Delhi Forum on SEZ)