Press Trust of India/PNN
Baripada, Dec 20: An eco-friendly tourism complex was Sunday inaugurated at Devkund, a tourist site under green cover in Mayurbhanj district.
Located at the foothills of the Similipal sanctuary, Debkund attracts a large number of tourists to the pristine beauty of forests.
Debkund or Deokund (the bathtub of Gods and Goddesses), located at a distance of 60 km from the district headquarters town of Baripada, is a major tourist spot also due to its alluring 60 mt high waterfall
Mayurbhanj collector Rajesh Pravakar Patil inaugurated the ecotourism complex planned with a budgetary outlay of `30 lakh.
The project included construction of two permanent eateries and sale of local handicraft along with four green toilets and water supply from the waterfall.
The site was beautified with installation of stone statues and the local residents were trained to manage the activities under the supervision of the forest department.
Regional chief conservator of forests and field director of Similipal Tiger Reserve Harish Kumar Bist, Baripada DFO Sanjay Kumar Swain and deputy director of STR Ajit Satpathy also attended the inaugural function.
The eateries would serve local delicacies, said a forest official. The project was envisaged to generate employment for the local youth, said the DFO. A picnic spot and paid toilet complex would soon come up as up-gradation of the facilities for the tourists, he added.
