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CM checks into hospital to skip park opening
The ruling CPM inaugurates its high-tech water park, Vismaya, spread over 30 acres in Kannur district, reports Ramesh Babu.
The ruling CPM inaugurated its high-tech water park, Vismaya, spread over 30 acres in Kannur district, on Sunday.
After multi-specialty hospitals, hypermarkets, TV channels and IT hubs, the proletarian party is entering the hospitality business in a big way.
But Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan, slated to inaugurate the park, got himself admitted to a private hospital hours before the opening ceremony, complaining of uneasiness.
Sources close to the CM’s office say he skipped the ceremony deliberately.
When environmentalists opposed the park citing ground water depletion, Achuthanandan shared some of their concerns. Moreover, as opposition leader, he led a virulent campaign against soft drink giants.
The party leadership however, gave wide publicity to his participation.
Later, state party secretary and the CM’s archrival Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the park. “A concerted campaign was directed against the park. But it gave us good publicity,” Pinarayi said.
The park’s promoters, Malabar Tourism Development Co-operative Society Ltd (MTDCSL), claim they have spent Rs 30 crore on it. MTDCSL has over 2500 stakeholders, most of them party sympathisers.
“In terms of land and equipment, it is the largest water park in the country. Initially, we expect gate collections of Rs 3.50 lakh daily,” said P.P. Chandran of MTDCSL.
