Baliapal: Dagara beach under Baliapal block in Balasore is said to be the most beautiful one in the state. Its tourism potential lies in its vast expanse of sand, red crabs, long casuarina forest, spectacular sunrise and sunset. Tourists from other states and even from other countries, though not in large numbers, visit the beach.
Sadly, its development has not taken place on expected lines. For instance, an ambitious project Dagara Tourist Corridor has not taken off. Three years have passed since Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the Tourist Corridor and a Panthnivas at an estimated cost of Rs 1.66 crore. Even its information plaque lies defaced. It seems the project has been forgotten.
Dagara beach is 12 km from the block headquarters. It spreads from Kankadpal, the Kirtania mouthfall, to Jambirai Hanskara. Anyone who visits the beach once cannot forget the feeling of being amid agile and shy red crabs and hissing casuarinas forest.
Given the potential of the place and in the large interest of the people, MP Rabindra Jena had made efforts for the Tourist Corridor and a Panthnivas. On the day of foundation laying January 29, 2016, Tourism Minister Ashok Kumar Panda had assured that there would be no funds crunch for the projects.
In his address, the Chief Minister had assured that special attention would be paid for development of Dagara, Chandipur, Udaypur and Talsari beaches.
Locals pointed out, “Let alone development, there is no proper road to the Dagara beach. The 12 km road from the block headquarters to the beach has been in bad shape. The condition of the stretch from Kalipada Bazaar to the beach is dreadful.”
The block administration had built a bungalow near it 18 years ago. The two-room bungalow has not been completed. It doesn’t have power or drinking water.
Dagara panchayat had set up some lighting systems and made drinking water provision at the beach five years ago, but those are not enough for tourists, locals lamented. Now, more casuarinas forests are being created along the beach.
MLA Nityananda Sahu said that statutory clearance for conversion of forestland; environment and CRZ clearance have not been available for the projects. Steps will be taken to remove the bottlenecks, he added.
PNN