Working class gets water theme park

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  A water theme park may sound a bit odd on the wishlist of a party once pledged to usher in a socialist utopia. But CPI(M) honchos, who inaugurated the “country’s first water theme park in the cooperative sector” in Kannur on Sunday, aver that the park is in lieu with the working class ideal of eight hours of work, eight hours of rest and eight hours of leisure. 

The Rs 25-crore Vismaya Infotainment Centre, inaugurated by CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, marks Kerala’s ruling party’s foray into the booming tourism industry. Vijayan dared detractors to “correct their calumny” against the initiative. “Allegations that the park is exploiting groundwater are baseless. From the beginning, we had made it clear that the park will be run on rainwater harvesting,” he said.

The Malabar Tourism Development Cooperative Limited, which runs the park, claims water comes from a five-crore litre rainwater harvesting facility. Ever since the CPI(M) announced its new-age venture in 2001, it had come under fire from a host of sections, including CM VS Achuthanandan. Tourism minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said, “We are experiencing tremendous growth in tourism sector, which is providing direct and indirect jobs to lakhs of people. Every section of society is reaping the benefits.”
s_don@dnaindia.net