Stakeholders: Expedite pending tourism projects in Kodagu dist

Madikeri: Tourism stakeholders have urged the Kodagu district administration to expedite long-pending tourism projects and tighten regulation of homestays and tourism-linked businesses. At a tourism department meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Somashekar SJ in Madikeri on Monday, he suggested reviving the Swachch Sundar Kodagu cleanliness drive in March to build awareness against littering and single-use plastic.
District Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Nagendra Prasad again raised the decades-long delay in completing the Kodava Heritage building, noting that the issue is repeatedly discussed without progress. Stakeholder Monti Ganesh sought action against the illegal sale of homemade wines, spices and chocolates allegedly being sold without FSSAI certification, and against counterfeit "Kodagu silk" being marketed in the district.Tourism department in-charge officer DD Nithin Chakki said the registration process is under way, with 100 new homestay registration applications and 180 licence renewal applications received, to be processed soon. Stakeholders also called for improvements at Raja Seat, including upgrading the children's play area, creating better parking facilities, and reintroducing the toy train. They further urged strict enforcement to completely curb the sale of single-use plastic across all sectors.The DC assured stakeholders that their concerns would be examined and directed tourism officials to complete homestay registrations and licence renewals by March 31.