Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida Friday directed officials to ensure improved sanitation, water maintenance, and tourist facilities at the City’s key heritage and religious sites, including Kedar Gouri, Khandagiri, Kapileshwar, and Mukteshwar.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan, Parida, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, emphasised the need for a comprehensive cleanliness and awareness campaign.
She urged the departments concerned to allocate adequate funds so that heritage conservation, tourism promotion, and environmental sustainability go hand in hand.
Key discussions included scientific waste management on temple premises, desilting and rejuvenation of water bodies, drainage improvement, and maintenance of water sources.
Officials were directed to conduct site inspections and prepare a detailed action plan for drainage, pumping, and maintenance works under the supervision of temple trusts and local authorities, with support from technical teams.
Parida highlighted the importance of close coordination among the Tourism department, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Endowment department, and the local administration.
The Tourism Minister also directed officials to ensure improved sanitation, water quality, and regular upkeep of monuments. Priority cleaning and pumping operations will be undertaken wherever necessary, she said.
In a bid to enhance visitor experience, the meeting, chaired by Parida, directed officials to deploy trained guides to share historical and cultural insights, ensure proper functioning of interpretation centres, and install ramps and universal accessibility facilities at all sites in the future.
Tourism department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh, Endowment Commissioner Lalatendu Jena, Tourism department Director Deepankar Mohapatra, Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department Additional Secretary Satrughna Kar, BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana, Khurda Collector Amrit Ruturaj, Sub-Collector Manoranjan Sahu, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh and representatives from ASI (Bhubaneswar Circle) were among those who attended the review meeting.