Keonjhar: Mineral-rich Keonjhar is endowed with many scenic spots and waterfalls. But some of them lay hidden from visitors’ notice. One of them is Jhikara waterfall, which needs to be developed as a tourist spot with some infrastructure facilities.
The waterfall, tucked away amid hilly terrains in Bolani area, is about 90 km from the district headquarters. The place borders on Jharkhand.
“If the government develops the place, it can attract a large number of tourists from the neighbouring state and other parts, apart from providing job opportunities and income generation,” locals said.
The waterfall is close to Kiriburu (Meghahatipur) hill bordering Jharkhand. The water cascading down the hill has created a creek that flows into Karo River, about 2 km from Bolani. The creek water is conserved at a place and from there the drinking water is supplied to Bolani area.
The cascading waterfall crashing on rocky surface offers ethereal beauty. The area is dense with trees and foggy as the water spray creates a mystical atmosphere. Sunlight filtering through water particles creates rainbow in mornings and evenings.
However, locals were upset over the fact that the water of the creek is being polluted by mining activities in the area. It is alleged that due to mining, the place is not being developed deliberately.
“As the place is not connected to a motorable road, the visitor footfall is little. There is a need for development of the place to boost tourism,” said Subasish Nanda, a local resident.
District tourism officer Ramesh Nayak said that after a survey of the place, steps can be taken for its development.
PNN