Do not spoil the beauty of Vellayani

Parks are said to be the lungs of cities. In the old days there were a lot of open spaces. Today it has all shrunk. Vellayani is one of the most scenic spots in Thiruvananthapuram. The real story of Vellayani can be identified only by watching the movie Kallichellamma. That old Vellayani is in a stat e of exhaustion and suffocation as a result of neglect and lack of attention. Paddy cultivation should have been started in paddy fields near the Agricultural College.
All the vegetables required for the city of Thiruvananthapuram could be produced here. Now the site of the Agricultural College is flooded. Urbanites have become accustomed to buying poisonous vegetables from Tamil Nadu by paying money. Kireedom bridge and Thilakan Road are cinema and serial locations. The Vellayani backwaters are deteriorating day by day due to neglect and overgrowth of African algae and plantains. The Venganur Grama Panchayat should be hailed for coming forward to find a solution to this dilemma. The panchayat has decided to form a people's alliance and provide basic facilities to protect the Vellayani lake, which is a fresh water lake and one of the major sources of drinking water in the city. As part of this, they are planning to build a cycle path around the lake and a green street for morning and evening travelers. Kalliyoor panchayat is also planning some projects.

The lake has been undergoing renovations for the past two years under the leadership of various voluntary organizations, but during the lockdown, it was once again filled with bananas and other debris. Vellayani has often been neglected for political reasons. Vellayani is in the Kovalam constituency. If a representative from the ruling party does not win from here, it will be ignored. The natural beauty of this place is equally belongs to all the people. The panchayat alone cannot fully protect Vellayani. The tourism department should also prepare plans for this. The money spent on the project can be recovered from there in many ways. This is how many places in foreign countries are beautified and protected. If Vellayani is renovated in that way, the shortage of a large park in the city will be solved. Not only the city dwellers but also the tourists from other places visit Vellayani. One of the lessons Covid has taught us is that open spaces that receive oxygen are essential for cities. Planners should be prepared to include Vellayani in the post-Covid development projects. There is no point in saying that the face of the city given a facelift. Such projects should be taken up and implemented.