Bahanaga: A memorial of participants of the historic Salt Satyagraha at Inchudi under Remuna block in Balasore district remains incomplete though four years have passed since its foundation stone was laid.
Tagged as the second Dandi of the country, Inchudi perpetuates the memory of Mahatma Gandhi’s fight against the British. However, a place of such historical importance presents a picture of apathy.
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All that the culture and tourism department did for the place after repeated demands from locals was declaring it a tourist spot October 6, 2003.
“Mere declaring it a tourist spot without doing anything for its development has no meaning,” locals lamented.
According to reports, an effort was made to set up some infrastructure at the place about 15 years ago.
A committee of local people, which was formed for development of the place, had several times in the past drawn the attention of the district administration towards the half-made building, but not step has been taken in this direction.
In 1920, when the Non-cooperation Movement failed to yield expected results against the British government, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch Civil Disobedience Movement in February 1930.
April 13, 1930, Satyagrahis from Panchimapada in Inchudi started making salt on the day of Mahabisuba Sankranti but were prevented by the British police.
A commemorative pillar was set up by Satyagrahi Smruti Committee about 15 years ago.
Later, the committee members undertook construction of a building near the pillar, but the structure is yet to be completed.
The committee members bemoaned the fact that neither the Central government nor the state has provided funds for its completion.
They also accused the culture and tourism department of not carrying out any developmental work after according tourist spot tag to the place.
Sarbeswar Das, president of the committee, said, “The government accorded tourist spot status to this place. But nothing has been done for its development. However, Balasore Anchalika Unnayan Parishad made provision of lighting facility here in 2015-16.”
The committee had earlier proposed to the government to construct a park and a library, but nothing has been done in this regard, Das said.
Rajya Sabha MP Baishnab Parida provided Rs 35 lakh from his MPLAD fund for a museum, a boundary wall and conference hall in 2012.
But the memorial building made by the efforts of the committee lies half-constructed four years after its foundation stone was laid.
The committee urged the government to provide funds for the building which will protect the glory of Satyagrahis. PNN
