Puri aquarium project in jeopardy

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Puri: The Tourism department’s plan to construct an aquarium in the Holy City here received a jolt as the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and the municipal body have constructed a community centre and a Kalyan Mandap respectively on a piece of land identified for the mega project.
The Tourism Department has expressed concern over the issue and written to the DRDA and the city’s municipal body to vacate the land, identified for the aquarium project.
The Tourism Department had decided to construct a large aquarium in the city to attract tourists. The state government had identified a piece of land measuring around two acres near the Urban Haat for constructing the aquarium and prepared an estimate of `5 crore for the project.
As per the original plan, the aquarium would display several species of aquatic animals found in both fresh water and brackish water. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid foundation for the project January 24, 2013. The Tourism department had prepared a design for the aquarium and engaged the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (idco) to carry out the construction work.
However, construction work for the project could not be taken up due to some unknown reasons. The Tourism department had convened several meetings in Bhubaneswar to expedite work for the project but failed, sources said.
In the meantime, the municipal body of the city had constructed a Kalyan Mandap on the land identified for the aquarium project. Similarly, the DRDA has started constructing a community centre on the same plot. “The idco officials had recently visited the plot to start construction of the aquarium. But, they failed to do so as the DRDA and the civic body have built some other structures on the land,” said a source.
Tourism department assistant director Bijay Kumar Jena said they have asked the DRDA and the city municipality to vacate the plot identified for the aquarium project. “This is unfortunate that they have built some structures on the land illegally,” Jena said.
However, municipal executive officer Srikant Tarai said they have not constructed any structure on the aquarium land. “We have not received any letter from the Tourism department,” he added.
DRDA project director Uddhav Chandra Majhi too denied that they have received any letter from the Tourism department.