The Meenachil-Meenanthara-Kodoor river relinking project, which has opened up new rivulets and brought hundreds of acres under paddy cultivation, has given shape to a new river-based tourism project at Padiyarakkadavu in Panachikkad grama panchayat here. The project was inaugurated on Friday evening. The event also marked the beginning of a three-day tourism festival, Vayalarangu.
K. Anil Kumar, who leads the people’s collective that is spearheading the river relinking project, said that under the Padiyarakkadavu tourism project, waterways and paddy fields of the agriculture villages of Vakathanam and Panachikkad would be developed, which would enable tourists to take canoe rides to Puthuppally through paddy fields.
The festival will showcase cultural programmes by local artists, eateries by Kudumbasree units, journeys in canoes, a children’s park, and products by the local dairy cooperative. “We are bringing back the rural life,” said Rajeev Pallikonam, a leading activist of the movement.
The festival will feature a programme by Sajeev Kumar who popularised leafy food from local flora and a painting camp by artists from Kottarathil Sankunni Smaaraka School of Arts.
The highlight of the inaugural evening was Parumthaattam, a local folk art form presented by A.S. Sasikumar, the only artist who performs it now. On Saturday, there will be a painting-music jugalbandi by artist Rajesh Manimala and musicians Binsi and Merlin. Classical dance performance has also been scheduled.
