Baripada, Jan 23: In the ongoing tourist season, a large number of tourists and picnickers from various parts of the country and abroad thronged different tourist spots including Sitakund in Mayurbhanj district while the district administration has made necessary arrangements for their accommodation and transportation. But sadly, the tourists spoil the natural surroundings of the tourist spots by littering all over.
Sitakund, a major tourist draw near Similipal sanctuary, situated 20 km from the Baripada, wears a dirty look with waste like used plastic plates, bottles, cups and leaf plates strewn all over. A large amount of such waste is dumped into streams and open clearings, say locals.
Sources say picnickers begin trickling into the tourist spot from the first week of December. “At least 100 picnickers come to the spot on a daily basis. However, they are hardly bothered about maintaining cleanliness at the place and dispose of food items and other garbage freely around the place. As a result of the tourists’ carelessness, the stream and the pond are now in a very filthy state,” locals said.
Similipal authorities have banned alcohol inside the spot, but it is still easily accessible. People drink liquor and discard the bottles wherever they please, say locals adding that nobody dares to stand up to them as there will be consequences.
District tourism officer Manoranjan Mohapatra said Sitakund has not been accorded tourism spot status while no steps have been taken to develop infrastructure here. For this reason, tourists are not checked before entering the area.
The forest department with help of local people has formed a forest protection committee, which is supposed to keep the surroundings clean, said Mohapatra.
Baripada DFO Sanjay Kumar Swain said the committee has been formed, but the stream lies under the project authorities of Similipal Tiger Reserve.
He observed that both sides are supposed to keep Sitakund clean.
As for the issue, deputy project director of STR, Ajit Kumar Sathpathy outlised the plan for Sitakund. “An eco tourism development committee will be formed with up to eight people of Gobindpur as members. As tourists are dumping waste there, the eco-tourism group will collect fees from them before entering the spot. The fees will be utilised for infrastructure,” he added.
This plan will be implemented by the first part of February, he added. PNN