The tourist destination may soon be declared a ‘Plastic Free Zone’
Bhubaneswar: Kalijai temple, a major tourist destination and famous for its eponymous deity, located on an island in Chilika lake will soon get a facelift as the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) has prepared a blueprint to develop the area.
According to sources, Kalijai and its adjoining areas will be developed with an investment of Rs 40 crore under Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP).
The move followed a recent visit by a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) representative to the locations of historical importance in and around the Chilika lake. In a bid to make the historically significant site tourist-friendly, the CDA has decided for an infra overhaul of the Kalijai temple and its adjoining 7-acre area.
“Despite having the potential for a key tourist attraction, Kalijai temple and its periphery have long remained neglected owing to several factors. The temple and its nearby areas will be revamped keeping the aesthetic, historical and physical integrity of the area intact,” said CDA additional chief executive Sasmita Lenka. Though Bhitarkanika could not get the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, Kalijai has all the prospects to clinch it, Lenka added.
According to sources, plans are afoot to set up a biodiversity park-cum-garden featuring a variety of plants and animals. A wide array of butterflies, peacocks and deer in the park will be the key attraction for the tourists.
“The temple will undergo a renovation as part of which an entrance with a swanky look will be constructed there,” Lenka stated, adding the temple servitors’ accommodation will also undergo a makeover.
While water purifiers will be installed on the temple precincts, modern toilets will be constructed for the tourists, Lenka added.
This apart, a vending zone will be set up to rehabilitate the vendors who have makeshift shops in and around the temple. Solar lights will illuminate the shrine and its surrounding areas, said the sources.
The authorities have been mulling to declare the area a ‘Plastic Free Zone’. In a bid to make the tourists and locals aware of hazards of solid wastes, the development authority will install dustbins with cautionary warnings.
In a bid to attract tourists, ferry boats will be decorated with multiple colours. Tariff for various categories or boats will also be looked into, Lenka said.
The island provides an excellent destination for pilgrims as well as tourists. In winter it witnesses a huge footfall. “The picnickers will not have to struggle to find a suitable place to party as concrete platforms will be raised on the hilltop near the temple. Besides, shops with basic stuffs like refreshments will also come up on the hilltop,” Lenka added.
Post News Network
