Berhampur: When the foundation stone for the Rock Garden at Ambapua in Berhampur of Ganjam district was laid three years ago, the intention was to set up a venue similar to that of the famous rock garden in Chandigarh.
Unfortunately, no major progress has yet been made in the case of the Rock Garden at Ambapua.
In a bid to place Berhampur on the world tourist map and attract visitors, many projects have been initiated and foundations stones were laid for several projects, including the Rock Garden, in the last couple of years.
For the Rock Garden, a first of its kind in the state, a site had been earmarked at Ambapua and a boundary wall was constructed around it. However, the project has not progressed beyond the construction of a wall.
Even as one-and-a-half-year has passed since the construction of the boundary wall, not a single rock has yet reached the site, prompting the local residents to say that the rock garden is waiting for rocks.
Berhampur has been preferred over other districts for Rock Garden because the town is considered as the gateway to Odisha tourism.
When the project was conceived, it was planned that stone sculptures of noted sculptors from the state and outside would be used in the garden.
The state government even declared that the first Rock Garden would come up at Ambapua in Berhampur in 2015.
The Berhampur Development Authority was entrusted with its construction work. A layout was designed for the garden stretching over nine acres with an estimated cost of Rs 13.92 crore.
The Architecture Firm, a Delhi based company, had also prepared a detailed project report (DPR), but no further action, apart from the construction of a boundary wall, has been taken in the case of the project.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone in December 2016.
In the first phase Rs 60 lakh was released for the construction of boundary wall. The construction work was started December 14, 2016 and had been completed in June 2017.
Local residents raised apprehension over the delay in further development of Rock Garden, which would have attracted more tourists to the town.
Art lovers and local residents held the government responsible for the delay in the completion of the project.
“The concerned officers’ lack of will power and the government’s apathetic attitude are reasons for the delay in the completion of the work,” they alleged.
BDA secretary Sambit Routray said, “Now a mega project, Eco Retreat Hub at Gopalpur, the prime tourist spot in Ganjam district, is undergoing. It will be completed in the next two to three months. For Rock Garden, the DPR has been sent for approval,” he said, adding that he was hopeful the government would sanction money for the early start of the construction work of the Rock Garden.”
PNN