Keonjhar: With tourism season already in, visitors have started descending on various tourist places in this district. However, tourists visiting Sanghagara waterfall were unhappy as the boating facility there has been defunct for the last three years.
Though lakhs of rupees were spent on the boating project to provide recreational facility to tourists, it is alleged, the tourism department has not shown interest to restore the facility.
Experts feel the absence of this facility will hit the tourist flow to the place. Thousands of people from various parts of the state as well as outside Odisha throng Sanghagara and enjoy its natural beauty. It is also a preferred picnic spot. Most of the tourists enjoy boating, but the facility is now lying defunct.
The department had spent lakhs of rupees on creating an artificial lake. It was alleged at that time that the work had been awarded to an inexperienced contractor without floating tender. The work was allegedly botched up, resulting in the lake being unable to hold enough water for boating. Years before the artificial lake was built, the place used to have enough water for boating. Boats are now gathering rust in the open.
Social activist Santosh Mohapatra said boating is the main attraction for tourists at Sanghagara. “Water shortage has completely left the project dysfunctional. In such a situation, tourists naturally will not turn up in large numbers,” he pointed out.
On the other hand, some environmentalists said the tourism department has carried out development of concrete infrastructure at its will in natural surroundings. A committee has been formed to look after the management and maintenance of the waterfall.
RTI activist Arabinda Behera alleged the work had been carried out without tender while nothing was being revealed about the project cost. He has demanded a high level probe into the project spending.
District tourist officer Ramesh Chandra Nayak said, “The lake work has been done by a private company. Boats are now inoperative. We will take steps to make them operational.”
PNN