Kochi: The central government has agreed to sanction Rs 20 crore to the Kerala state for setting up tourist cruise terminals, convention centres, amusement parks, rope-ways, cruise vessels and tourist trains, according to Kerala Fisheries and Tourism Minister K V Thomas.

Thomas says the Centre has also agreed to include Kochi, Thekkady, Madurai and Rameswaram in the new circuits that were started by the Centre and to include Kerala in Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi circuits.

The master plan for developing infrastructure for these circuits will be prepared by the union tourism secretary and the state chief secretary. The project will be fully funded by the Centre. The minister says the Centre has also agreed to provide funding for creation of budget accommodation facilities, tourist complexes, wayside amenities, tourist reception centres and protection of memorials and conduct of light-and-sound shows at these memorials under the 90:10 ratio funding programmes.

Kumbalangi in Kochi will be developed as a model tourist village with Central assistance. The Centre will also provide Rs 50 lakh for conducting boat races and other festivals in the state, he says. Thomas says he held discussions with union ministers of agriculture and tourism and central government officials in New Delhi from 17 to 19 July 2002. The Centre has agreed to sanction Rs 4 crore for giving Rs 40,000 each as assistance to the fisher folk from the National Fish Workers Welfare Fund for construction of houses.

This is apart from the construction of seven major fishing harbours, nine mini-fishing harbours and 11 fish landing centres in the Tenth Five Year Plan. The seven major fishing harbours and the estimated project costs are: Thottappalli in Alappuzha district (Rs 16.30 crore), Koilandy in Kozhikode (Rs 23 crore), Thalai in Kannur (Rs 19.70 crore), Kasargod (Rs 20 crore), Arthungal in Alappuzha (Rs 15 crore), Chettuva in Thrissur (Rs 15 crore) and Cheruvathoor in Kasaragod (Rs 20 crore).