Kovalam to undergo makeover before tourist influx  

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26 (PTI) Ahead of thehigh-volume tourist season, Kovalam, one of KeralaÂ’s maindestinations with its pristine crescent-shaped beaches andpalm-lined coves, is set to become safer and more secure thanever before with additional security features, including a24X7 CCTV system being put in place. In a novel initiative, overall charge of the coastalhotspotÂ’s security – hitherto split into separatejurisdictions between a number of government bodies – will beconsolidated in the hands of a ‘Destination ManagerÂ’. The position will become the designated authority tohandle matters of day-to-day operational security, an officialrelease said today. The entire resort area will be blanketed 24×7 by asecurity system that incorporates a CCTV surveillance network. Discrete fencing would be put up around popularviewpoints such as the Edakkal rocks to ensure tourist safetywithout becoming an eyesore, the Tourism department said. A short-term road map was laid out by Kerala Tourismat a joint action meeting here few days ago that broughttogether some 40 representatives from a number of governmentdepartments as well as tourism and trade industrystakeholders.   "The meeting was convened to both assure involved partiesof resolute support at all levels to help preserve Kovalam andto ensure that all corrective measures currently beingimplemented are completed well before the first week ofNovember, when the tourist season officially kicks off,"Kerala Tourism Director U V Jose said. PTI JRK VS CHTKK