Bhawanipatna: Many members including the chairman of Shining Kalahandi, a local outfit, Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through District Collector Anjan Kumar Manik here seeking immediate renovation of Phurlijharan waterfall, a tourist destination inside Karlapat sanctuary in Kalahandi district.
Earlier, the outfit’s chairman Bhabanishankar Nial met the principal chief conservator of forest in Bhubaneswar and discussed about the memorandum containing 11-point charter of demands that was submitted to the Chief Minister.
According to reports, the waterfall and the tourism centre in Phurlijharan suffered massive damage in July last following heavy downpour and thunderstorm. Since then, entry of visitors into the site has been restricted with its gate remaining closed. Resentment brewed among locals as the forest department doesn’t bother to take any measures to maintain the scenic site.
Locals have expressed concern over the forest department not taking any steps for its renovation, a report said.
Phurlijharan waterfall, just 15 km from district headquarters town under Sagada panchayat draws heavy footfall across the year thanks to its natural splendor. More than 50,000 tourists annually visit the site that contributes lakhs of rupees to the state exchequer, sources said.
However, the waterfall is in a pitiable condition as it lost its sheen since July 2017 following the natural calamity. The forest department has officially closed the spot for nearly a year
At a time when the state government claims it does everything to boost the tourism sector, the present state of Phurlijharan waterfall tells a different tale, alleged locals.
Though the matter was taken up by the forest department and the district officials on several occasions, it yielded no results, they said.
The demands raised by Shining Kalahandi in their memorandum included eco tourism status to Phurlijharan, immediate repair of damaged facilities, erection of sidewalls on both sides of the fall, laying of an approach road, two Kalyan Mandaps, 50 public toilets, five guest houses and bright illumination of the site.