Bhograi: The tourism potential of Talasari-Udayapur sea beach along the Bhograi coast in Balasore district has not yet been tapped by the government.
The state tourism department, it is alleged, has given a short shrift to the beach while Digha beach, abutting Orissa border, has been developed into a huge tourist draw in West Bengal.
Locals claimed that the picture-postcard Talasari beach has remained largely unexplored due to lack of willpower of people’s representatives and the tourist department.
They have equally blamed the Central government for not doing enough to develop the beach.
Locals pointed out that the Digha beach is fetching crores of rupees to the West Bengal government per annum.
Within a distance of 4 km from the Orissa borders, New Digha and Old Digha beaches are equipped with world-class infrastructure and facilities. There are over 500 luxury hotels and lodgings in Digha while Talasari has only two hotels – one by OTDC and another by a private company.
To increase tourist footfall, the West Bengal government has developed a science park, a marine aquarium, a bird sanctuary, boating facility and toy train ride in New Digha. Guesthouses with attractive decorative lights make Old Digha more beautiful.
There is also provision of helicopter services for tourists from Kolkata to Digha and train services to Digha from Kolkata and Puri.
Besides, a protective wall has been built along the Digha beach to check sea erosion while scores of concrete benches have been laid along the beach for tourists.
Now, the West Bengal government is planning to set up a port for fishermen at Shankarpur-Tajpur near Digha.
Ironically, the state government has failed to tap the huge tourism potential of Talasari-Udayapur beach, which is endowed with beautiful natural settings. Sprawling casuarinas, fast-moving red crabs, cacophony of the birds and water sports by Olive Ridley turtles are things tourists would like to see here. In the winter, the ambient air is rent with cacophony of migratory birds in Talasari.
Besides, Bhusandheswarjew temple is close to the place while an ecotourism project lies incomplete at Khadibila. During the Talasari beach festival, the government has announced its plan to develop the place into a world-class tourism spot. In addition, it was also announced that `2.55 core will be spent for developing a tourism circuit including Bhusandheswar, Kirtania, Dagara, Chandaneswar, Chandipur and Nilagiri. But there has been an inordinate delay in executing the plans.
MLA Ananta Das has repeatedly been insisting on fast-tracking development of Talasari, but nothing is being done.
When Srikant Jena was Union tourism minister, he had sanctioned `54 crore under a Central scheme for development of Talasari.
Former MP Kharvel Swain has provided `6.10 lakh in two phases for creating casuarinas, setting up a deer park, maintaining clean environment and protection of red crabs. Swain blamed the state government for failing to develop the place.
Former MP Kartikeswar Patra held the state and Central governments responsible for the tourism potential lying untapped at Talasari, which needs facilities like hotels, illumination, and drinking water among other things. PNN
