Plans to bring back Parade Grounds lost glory

KOCHI: The tourism department has taken charge to renovate the neglected and depleted Parade Ground in Fort Kochi.The Parade Gound, which was earlier known as the ‘Baracka Maithan’ (which means Barrack Square in Portuguese), is where the Portuguese armies had once housed their arsenals. Also, this ground had been a witness to the fall of the British empire. “The Union Jack of the British was hoisted proudly at the ground for more than 70 years and was brought down on August 14, 1947,” said K J Sohan, Town Planning Committee chairman.According to MLA Dominic Presentation, the renovation of the Parade Ground will also develop the historical importance of Fort Kochi. “The Parade Ground is of huge historical significance as the flags of three empires- the Portugese, Dutch and the British have stood tall here. Post-independence the ground was maintained for quite a few years. But gradually, the area around the ground was taken over by the local shopowners leaving the place unkempt and dirty,” said Dominic Presentation.Under renovation, the plan is to give the ground its lost glory as well as looks. The renovation will be based on the pictures of the ground from the British era. Also, walkways will be included for tourists to walk around the ground.In the past few years, the ground which has been marked as a no-development zone by the Archeological Survey of India, has created a drift between the Corporation authorities and the locals. “The Corporation had set up walls around its boundaries. But the people were dead against it as they questioned the need of the wall which marred the beauty of what the ground stood for in the past,” a local said.As part of the renovation, the walls will be removed and the ground will be cleared of weed. Also, there are plans to solve the problems of water logging which at present is the biggest threat faced by the ground.“The area is being used as a play field at present. Once renovated, it can be developed into a major sightseeing destination for the tourists,” Dominic added.The renovation of the Parade Ground will be done as part of the `12-crore beautification project of the Fort Kochi town. This is an initiative by the State government.