Baripada: In a major boost to tourism sector, two more scenic places – Sitakund and Alakudar – were added to the list of 17 tourist spots in Mayurbhanj district. This was stated by district tourism officer Manoranjan Mohapatra.
Tourist spot status to these sites was a long pending demand of the locals.
Sitakund waterfall lies in Shyamakhunta block while Alakudar waterfall is in Jashipur block.
Mohapatra said proposal seeking tourist spot status to Sitakund was sent to the government vide letter-615/9/11/2015 while proposal for Alakudar was forwarded to the department vide letter- 309/17/5/2016.
A detailed survey report was also submitted about location of the places and required infrastructure like road and other facilities.
He said the tourism department will sanction funds to carry out peripheral development of the two sites, resulting in social-economic uplift of local residents. Sitakund is 20 km away from Baripada. Here the water cascades down from 50-ft height and gurgles into Palapal river at Munidara Sath.
The river finally merges with Budhabalanga.
Likewise, water crashes down from 300-ft height at Alakudar and drains into river Khairi at Podagada.
This much-awaited status for these two sites has come about five days after a report about the two places was carried in Oriya daily Dharitri. PNN
