While the issue of ‘imbalance’
fuming, plundering of resources, environmental hazards, climate change, global
warming and pollutions totally affecting the innocent people. The paradox is
that in one side business runs and earns profit and in the other side a large
number of weaker section becoming the victims of the evil doing of industrial
boom. The case is very relevant in tourism industry where it totally depend on
the host community and the picturesque and pristine destinations. Statistics
shows that the tourist inflow to Kovalam is declining; and I have traced out
the reasons, 1) Lack of beach area and number of visitors exceeding the
carrying capacity 2) increased pollution and low quality of beach water. A
micro study done by me revealed that a large portion of the beach area was
encroached by private resort owners for their constructions that reduced the
area and natural beauty of the beach. Secondly most of the properties flow
their waste water and even grey water to the sea through a underground pipe
that made the beach blackish. It is against the environmental responsibility of
business.
Next incident is from Marayoor,
Idukki. Some travel agents bribed a Gotra leader and managed to enter their
hamlets with a pack of passengers. Money and drug made the leader of that
tribal colony to be tempted. It’s an exploitation of indigenous rights of
people. recently Supreme Court has banned tourism in the Jarawa tribal
community in Andaman Nicobar due to a similar incident.
Last is from Aalappuzha, some resort
owners prohibited the entry of local people to the shores of lake by fencing or
constructing buildings. This is also against the right of local people and
against the national and international tourism codes, policies and guidelines.
In this context an effective
intervention from government, international agencies and N.G.O’s sought.
Paul
V Mathew
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