Chandbali: The historic port at Chandbali in Bhadrak district presents a picture of neglect, with only a few of its assets surviving the ravages of time and lying unprotected all round.
The port was abuzz with marine activities during the British rule. Over the years, the port city fell into ruins while its memory survives through assets like cannon, an anchor, chains and a geriatric generator set lying scattered at different places in the port area on the banks of river Baitarani. For lack of maintenance, these assets have been damaged. Still then, tourists from various places come to see the traces of the old port. Some of its assets have allegedly been stolen too in the absence of surveillance.
Five-ft long cannon with a girth of two-ft lies unprotected at Chandbali. It is said that a Hong Kong-based company had made the cannon out of alloys. The specialty of the massive cannon is that it has not yet caught rust.
The British security used the cannon to protect the port from the onslaught of pirates. The cannon had earlier been kept at the Chandbali bus terminal. Some miscreants had made an abortive bid to steal it by a truck about 25 years ago.
Following this, monument-lovers shifted it to Nehru Children’s Park and placed it on a pedestal of concrete.
A massive anchor has been kept at the entry point of a government marine training institute. Robust iron chains and a kind of machine to measure territorial waters were left unprotected at other places. Locals alleged some other machines and assets lie neglected near the launch ghat and the port office.
A generator was used to keep the port area lighted instead of using lanterns. Under lights of the generator, cargo loading and unloading was convenient. Its broken parts lie on the premises of Nesco office.
Locals demanded concrete measures for the protection of the British-era port’s assets while the government has not yet effected its proposal for renovation of the port.
“The government’s idea to make use of the area as a tourist spot has been confined to the proposal only. The government has to carry out a beautification drive on the banks of Baitarani, Salandi and Mantei,” locals pointed out.
The port area has good tourism potential, but tardy pace of the Bhadrak-Chandbali road project, whose renovation has been going on for the last eight years, has been a major hurdle in it, said locals.
“Due to bad shape of the road, a few tourists prefer to take rail route from Bhadrak station to visit Chandbali,” said tour operator and guide Subash Satpathy. PNN
