Kendrapada/Rajnagar: In a major step towards promoting sustainable tourism and protecting the fragile ecosystem of Bhitarkanika National Park, the state government has decided to introduce battery-powered boats in the renowned mangrove forest.
The initiative is aimed at reducing pollution, safeguarding the park’s sensitive ecosystem and providing visitors with a cleaner and more environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
The proposal was discussed at a stakeholders’ meeting held recently at the Bhitarkanika National Park office, where Forest Department officials apprised local boat owners of the new green mobility initiative.
Rajnagar MLA Dhruba Sahoo, Kendrapada Collector Raghuram R Iyer and Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove and Wildlife Division, Varadaraj Gaonkar attended the meeting.
In the first phase, four to five battery-powered boats, each costing around Rs1 crore, will be introduced in Bhitarkanika. To encourage boat owners to switch to cleaner technology, the state government will provide a 50 per cent subsidy on the purchase of such boats.
However, boat owners expressed concern over the high cost of such vessels.
They said a conventional fossil fuel-powered boat costs between Rs10 lakh and Rs12 lakh.
The boat owners suggested that a trained guide should be deployed on each boat and proposed that the Forest department collect a fixed guide fee from tourists at the entry point.
They also urged the department to create the necessary infrastructure, including adequate charging facilities, before introducing e-boats.
The boat owners further pointed out that coastal Kendrapada is vulnerable to cyclones and other natural calamities.
They sought clarification on how the battery-powered boats would be protected during extreme weather conditions and urged the authorities to examine the issue before implementing the project.
Forest officials said the initiative is the first of its kind in the state and assured the stakeholders that necessary training would be provided to boat operators.
Only trained and authorised operators would be permitted to operate the battery-powered boats.
Addressing the meeting, the Collector said the introduction of battery-powered boats would give a major boost to eco-tourism in Bhitarkanika while helping conserve its lush and fragile ecosystem.
He said the initiative would help reduce pollution and provide visitors with improved facilities and a more environmentally friendly experience.
The boat owners welcomed the initiative but urged the Forest Department to ensure that the transition to battery-powered boats does not adversely affect their livelihoods.
Rajnagar MLA Dhruba Sahoo also welcomed the move and stressed the need to address the concerns of local boat owners so that they do not face difficulties in sustaining their livelihoods.
