Mattannur: The Nayikkali island in Koodali panchayat, Kannur, will soon be turned into an international eco-tourism center. The project, with an outlay of Rs 10 crore will be executed on the banks of the Nayikkali river. A meeting convened recently has decided to prepare a detailed report on the proposed project.
The ambitious project is envisaged in the area which shares boundaries with Koodali panchayat, Mattannur municipality and Irikkoor panchayat. The water from the Pazhassi dam flows to the Irikkoor river through the Mannur river which is mesmerizingly beautiful. The Nayikkali island was chosen by the tourism department for the project, owing to its incredible features. The beautiful bamboo forests and huge rocks add to the charm of the island. The Nayikkali island will be transformed into a major tourist destination like the Kuruva islands in Wayanad. This project gained momentum as a result of the efforts of EP Jayarajan, MLA and Koodali panchayat. A company in Kochi has been entrusted with project preparation by the district tourism promotion council. The report will then be submitted to the working group of the tourism department to be held in Thiruvananthapuram next month. The department will invite tenders after studying the report in detail.
Footfalls to rise
The number of tourists is expected to go up significantly in the area, especially after the newly constructed Kannur International Airport starts functioning by September this year. Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran has already extended to the Nayikkali international eco-tourism project.
