Rourkela: In a joint effort, the Bonai forest department officials and tribals have initiated a new drive to facelift the landscape surrounding Khandadhar Waterfall here in Sundargarh district.
While the tribals have come forward to work in the maintenance of the picturesque location, the forest officials have started guarding the spot and collecting small amount of fees from tourists who visit the appealing destination.
“We have started charging the visitors so that we can maintain the decorum. We have many things to consider like the spots where the picnickers frequent, the bathrooms, and other facilities like view point and so forth,” said divisional forest officer (DFO) SK Banchur.
At least 50 tribal youth from the province have been hired for the maintenance work. They will be paid Rs 6,000 per month. Rourkela Steel Plant under its CSR initiative has assured to pay the remuneration for maintenance.
Presently, the department is charging for individual visitors. They adults are charged Rs 15 while children below 12 are allowed free.
Moreover, two-wheeler parking comes to Rs 20, three-wheelers at Rs 30; in four wheelers the charge for light and heavy vehicles are Rs 50 and 200 respectively.
To ensure more footfalls, the officials have lessened the ticket amount to Rs 10 for locals from Bonai region and Rs 5 for tribals from nearby Talabahadi gram panchayat where the waterfall is situated.
The jungle and environment department has also fixed timing for the visit to the waterfall. Visitors can visit the site anytime between 9AM and 5 AM. After evening, visitors are not allowed to avoid any kind of mishap.
The move by forest officials has been welcomed particularly by the visitors.
’Every tourist spot charges visitors for their maintenance work. We really like the place and the efforts are taken to make it an attractive location. The waterfall can be tagged as a tourist spot soon,” a visitor from Cuttack said.
The forest officials have also decided to open cabins for visitors for night stays. This will not only help visitors enjoy the night scenery in the area but also attract more visitors in the area, the DFO said.
PNN
