Fishermen and activists in India’s state of Kerala say that officials are diverting tsunami relief funding and using it to beautify the beaches and tourist resorts rather than funding the rebuilding of the local fishing industry, according to a story on Sky News.
After the tsunami hit activist claim the Indian government said that the tourist facilities in Kerala were “safe and unaffected,” but they changed their minds later and diverted £170 million to tourist projects.
There are now plans to market Kovalam as an international, year round surfing destination by using the funds to construct a 500 metre artificial reef at a cost of almost half a million pounds. . . . It would be India’s first specialist surfing and wave sport destination. . . . “How can such activities protect coastal population and environment from disaster like tsunami?” asks Ajay of Janamunnettam, a network of civil society organizations. . . . “Kerala Tourism is insulting and fooling the affected communities while claiming these activities as coastal protection.”
Then again, no one throws their money around more than tourists, though surf tourists are not exactly who we’d want to go after is we were looking for a steady revenue stream.
[Link: Sky News]
