Udala: A controversy broke out between the authorities of the Debakund Eco-Tourism and PESA (a local organization) over collection of fee for vehicle parking and shoe keeping at Kundabai panchayat under Udala block in Mayurbhanj district Tuesday.
The row is likely to hit the ongoing tourism season if it is not resolved soon, experts said. Tuesday, the main gate of the Debakund remained closed for an hour over the issue.
Thousands of tourists and picnickers throng the place every day.
Reports said, the tourist centre is jointly managed and looked after by eco-tourism staff and the Forest Department. The authorities collect fees for parking bikes and keeping shoes, but PESA activists oppose this practice. They locked the gate for an hour as a result of which no vehicles could enter Debakund.
Activists of PESA organization demanded that they should be assigned the upkeep of the parking and shoe stand area.
They also alleged that the eco-tourism department is not developing the tourist hub.
Tension flared up after the PESA activists locked the gate. Udala tehsildar Rajendra Narayan Kar, Sub-Collector Gourahari Mohant, Udala IIC Sanatan Sahu, ranger Ajay Kumar Das and Baripada ACF, local sarpanch and samiti member rushed to the spot and tried to resolve the issue.
They held talks with officials of the eco-tourism and PESA. It was decided that a meeting will be held January 8 to sort out the issue.
PNN
