Post News Network
Udala, Dec 17: Eventually, the state government has set the ball rolling for the much awaited development of the famous tourist spot Debkund in Mayurbhanj district. The tourist draw lies amid the beautiful sylvan settings of Similipal sanctuary.
The district administration and the forest department are currently on their toes working out plans to boost the ecotourism aspect of the spot. The administration has laid thrust on effective execution of projects to be undertaken soon for its development.
Indian Gramin Service, an NGO, has been assigned as facilitator on the behalf of the district administration, said Baripada DFO Sanjay Kumar Swain.
The forest department has planned to ply battery-propelled vehicles for an 8-km stretch of road from Budhamara entry point to Devi temple for providing pollution-free conveyance into the spot.
“Operation of battery-run vehicles will help us check pollution as well as manage traffic properly inside the sanctuary,” the DFO said. As for publicity of the tourist spot, information plaques will be set up along the roads at various places across the district so as to facilitate easy communication to tourists coming from other states, he added.
The forest department has also prepared information boards about vehicle parking and entry fees. Besides, there will be facilities of safe drinking water and toilets for tourists while a place for picnic will be earmarked in the area, forest officials said.
The issue was discussed at a recent meeting attended by sub-collector Prabhat Kumar Mohapatra, sub-divisional police officer Suresh Chandra Patra, Udala block development officer Sucharu Kumar Bal, tehsildar Bijay Mallick, IIC Nalita Modi, assistant conservator of forests Arun Patra, forest ranger Ajay Das and sub-divisional information and public relations officer Ramesh Nayak.
Many of them mooted the idea of launching a helpline service for the spot. It was decided that steps will be taken soon in this regard. PNN
