Varkala all set for a face-lift; Rs 10 crore for beach beautification

Photo Courtesy: Ram Kumar

Varkala beach in Kerala is all set to be an international model for waste management, as the state government is planning for a beach beautification project of Rs 10 crore under the Zero Waste Beacon Varkala. After the successful completion of the Beacon Varkala project, the state government has kick-started the new activities under the new scheme ‘Old is My Gold’.

The Minister for Tourism, Kadakampally Surendran, inaugurated the new project, which is implemented with the active participation of students from all the schools which falls under the municipality division. As part of the ‘Old is My Gold’ scheme, the students are encourage to reuse the bags, shoes, lunch boxes, water bottles and umbrellas. Under the scheme, a bank account will be started in the name of each student with a deposit of Rs 500. The money is given to them as a token of appreciation for not buying new things, thereby helping students learn to save and manage finances too.

“Scientific and easy ways of waste disposal are very much needed. ‘Zero Waste Beacon Varkala’ is a model for the world. It would improve the tourism potential of Varkala,” said the minister after inaugurating the new project.

The tourism department is planning many activities and project to make Varkala a waste-free beach. The minister has also informed that the department has earmarked Rs 10 crore for the comprehensive development of Varkala beach.

“Waste management in Varkala had become a huge success through the zero-waste project. The next goal is to turn it into an international model. This will be possible if waste management projects are made a part of tourism development. The project has already become a self-sufficient business model,” said District Collector K Vasuki.

The scheme is part of the ‘Zero Waste Beacon Varkala’ waste management project, being implemented by the Pelican Foundation, a non-governmental organisation approved by the District Suchitwa Mission, with the support of the district administration and the Varkala municipality.