Varkala can soon boast of world class aquarium

Varkala: If things go as planned, a huge aquarium will soon come up here in Varkala, offering a visual treat of colours. The four-storey spiral building is coming up in the compound of a shrimp hatchery in Odayam. Work is progressing in such a way that the facility can be opened during Onam.

It will give visitors to the coast of Varkala a visual treat of rare fish and other creatures, both local and foreign, which live in fresh water and the sea. A central pool, which will welcome visitors, will be the main attraction of the aquarium. It will be possible to touch big fish in this pool.

From there, visitors circling up the stairs will be able to see fish and other aquatic creatures in large glass containers. Another attraction will be a tall cylindrical aquarium. A 3D theatre is also being built to introduce the sea to children. The top floor will have a restaurant. The total cost of construction is 3.5 crore rupees, said hatchery manager E. Najeeb.

The aquarium, coming up under the aegis of the Agency for Development of Aquaculture, Kerala (ADAK), will initially have cone fish, butterfly, sergeant, flat, jelly, damsel, eel, etc.

People connected to the aquarium say it will have a bigger collection than the aquarium run by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Vizhinjam. It will have about 80 tanks that are 4-8 feet in size. The aquarium, which is coming up alongside the hatchery that started operations in 2006, is built by Costford.

The hatchery has earned profits for the fifth year in a row.Once the aquarium is ready, it will give a big boost to ADAK. A meeting, chaired by Varkala Kahar MLA, reviewed the progress of the project the other day.

Source: @ manoramaonline.com