Khurda: The Barunei hill, one of the prominent tourist spots in Khurda district, is crippled with infrastructure woes even as mafia are smuggling timber by cutting trees from the site.
Lack of drinking water facility and basic sanitation at Barunei hill has been causing inconveniences for the tourists, sources said.
Located in sylvan settings, the shrine of twin goddesses Barunei and Karunei usually attract hundreds of tourists from several parts of the state. The tourism site, which comes under Ward No. 3 of Khurda municipality, sees many picnickers during the winter every year. A few years ago, the Tourism department and the district administration had set up a few drinking water kiosks at Barunei hill to cater to the visitors’ needs.
However, these kiosks are now lying defunct due to lack of maintenance, locals rued. “The stairs to the shrine of twin goddesses Barunei and Karunei have suffered extensive damage over the years. The damaged and moss-covered stairs are posing threat to the tourists,” they added.
The municipal authorities of Khurda town have engaged a private player to ensure cleanliness at Barunei hill. But, the agency has failed to keep the tourist spot free from garbage, sources said.
“Lack of drinking water is a major concern at Barunei hill. Illegal parking of heavy vehicles on the road to the hill is also an issue. The administration has failed to provide basic facilities to the tourists,” said Gagan Das, a tourist.
It is learnt that regular felling of trees from the nearby forests is affecting the natural environment of Barunei hill. “A few timber mafia have been active in the area for the last several days. They have smuggled timber worth around Rs 1 crore from the forests during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Soon, Barunei will lose its sheen. Some anti-social elements are also congregating at the place,” said a social activist.
Khurda municipal executive officer Shwetapadma Satpathy said, “There were restrictions on the congregation of tourists at Barueni hill due to Covid-19 pandemic. Now, we will take steps to ensure proper infrastructure at the tourist spot.”
