Chandbali: Shastrighat along the Baitarani on the outskirts of Chandbali town in Bhadrak is one of the oldest river ghats in the state. The historic Cross Stand road was built from this ghat to Chandbali port during British rule. Decades after Independence, the government has paid little attention to its upkeep while people from various localities face problems while ferrying across the river in the absence of a bridge.
Now, boats are the only means of communication for locals, but services have not been improved, it is alleged. During British era, a large number of boats and steamers were deployed to ferry cargo from Shastrighat to different places.
The ghat has been a mute spectator of many important events over the years. The ghat is named after former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. However, locals say it is puzzling why the ghat was named after him as he had never visited the spot.
Locals say a statute of Shastri was built at this place in 1968. Murali Sethi, a local sculptor, had built the statue. Years later, an outfit called Shastrinagar Unnayan Parishad was formed. A bronze statue of the former Prime Minister was installed at the place. Now, many boatmen eke out their living from ferrying cargo and people across the river. However, development of the ghat has been pushed to the backburner due to apathy of the state government, local traders and boatmen alleged.
Boats are docked about 50 m away from the river bank in the absence of a wharf.
“The ghat needs dredging and infrastructure development,” said trader Smrutiranjan Pati. Years ago, large quantities of vegetables and other goods from villages of Jajpur were loaded on boats and ferried to different places.
Some traders from West Bengal used to deal with pumpkins and paddy transported from Dhamara, Chadadia, Talachua and Rajnagar. Thursday and Sunday, thousands of traders throng the ghat to ferry produce from Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jajpur to sell it at Chandbali market.
Groceries, cement, wood and vegetables are transported by boats, said Udaybhanu Sahu, a local trader. PNN
