Sambalpur: Two new nature parks, Hirakud Nature Park at Govindpur and Debrigarh Nature Park at Zero Point, which are the two ends of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, were inaugurated Wednesday. Both the nature parks are adjoining Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and the Ramsar wetland of Hirakud. PCCF (Wildlife) Sushil Kumar Popli inaugurated both parks in the presence of local villagers who will manage them under the supervision of Debrigarh forest authorities in the presence of divisional forest officer (DFO) Anshu Pragyan Das.
Govindpur is a beautiful village on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, on the banks of Hirakud reservoir on the foothills of Debrigarh sanctuary while Zero Point is the entry point to Debrigarh from the Sambalpur side. Hirakud Nature Park is at Govindpur village on the foothills of Debrigarh sanctuary overlooking Hirakud wetland. Hirakud Wildlife Division has recently started boating facilities at Govindpur Birds’ Village. The village was declared a ‘birds’ village’ during 2022 as this village community since ages has been providing protection to the migratory birds coming to Hirakud Lake from various countries of the world thereby aiding their conservation.
Thousands of picnickers, bird watchers, and visitors come to the birds’ village for picnicking and boating in Hirakud. This area of the artificial lake has many submerged temples and hills within the reservoir. Debrigarh Nature Park at Zero Point, an entry point to Debrigarh Sanctuary, has similar amenities. It will be managed by the local forest-dependent communities as an alternative livelihood option. The refreshment kiosk, souvenir shop, and boating facilities have been completed.
