Bhawanipatna: A district tourism centre that has been in the wings for over 24 years now despite being allocated a sum of Rs 30 lakh has met with sharp criticism by locals here, who said the gross lack of political will and an apathetical attitude of the government is only compounding the situation.
It may be mentioned here that the foundation of the tourism centre was laid by former chief minister Biju Patnaik in 1992.
According to a tourism stakeholder in the area, it is unfortunate that the project has been lying incomplete despite so many years passing since its announcement. The government is least bothered about fulfilling its promises to the people of the area, locals alleged.
Kalahandi district has all the potential to become one of the best tourists’ destinations of the state due its dense forests and spots of natural beauty. But the district fails to attract tourists due to lack of infrastructure.
Famous places that have the potential to be developed into tourists’ destinations include Gudahandi under Koksara block, Asuragad Durga under Narla block, Phurlijharan waterfall, forests of Thuamul-Rampur and Jakam and Indravati project. Multiple heritage sites in Junagarh town also attract a number of tourists. However, the footfall is very low as there are no proper accommodation facilities in most of the areas Places that do have facilities for an overnight stay are usually very low on quality and thus do not attract a sizeable number of tourists, say observers.
Then Kalahandi district collector M Rajamani, in a letter to the state government in 1991, had requested sanctioning of Rs 50 lakh for the tourism centre at Beheraguda. He had cited the necessity of the centre at the place for the convenience of tourists, who can take rest there before travelling to Thuamul-Rampur.
The government had identified 2.94 acres of land to set up the tourism centre at Beheraguda in Bhawanipatna town. A seven-member committee had visited the spot and approved the proposal. A total of Rs 31.72 lakh was estimated for the project and the state government had provided a grant of Rs 27.7 lakh that year.
However, a meagre Rs 5.36 has been spent till date and only the foundation of the building has been completed. The remaining amount, Rs 22.34 lakh, has been lying unused. The works department is yet to take any measures to accomplish the project.
For construction of the compound wall of the project, Rs 10 lakh was allocated, but only Rs 1.64 lakh could be spent till date.
Meanwhile, cultural activists of the area demanded a thorough probe into the non-utilisation of funds by the works department. They added that the Vigilance department should be entrusted with the charge of investigations. PNN