State government to push infra development for Ecotourism

By Realty Quarter Bureau

The state government is keen to develop ecotourism destinations to increase tourist footfall. A source said work was already in progress at 30 places of scenic beauty across 22 districts. Tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda is pinning great hopes on the project for the growth of state tourism.
He recently told the reporters about the plan followed by his department’s review by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, as per news reports.

A source said the work was being carried out jointly by the tourism and the forest departments at a number of places including, Mangaljodi on the banks of the Chilika lake. Mangaljodi, where migratory birds flock in large numbers during the winter, now boasts of a state-of-the-art bird interpretation centre. Steps are being taken to construct at least a dozen rooms, watchtowers and nature trails in the area to turn it into a bird watchers’ paradise. “During the winter when the entire lake area comes alive with the cacophony of birds we take special care to ensure that the winged guests are safe and enjoy their stay,” said Chilika divisional forest officer Bikash Ranjan Das.

Other sites which are being developed by the state government as part of this new tourism project include Barakhandia and Dhodrokusum under the Hirakud wildlife division, Kumari and Jamuani under Baripada wildlife division, Deras and Godibari under the Chandaka wildlife division and Tarava and Chhotkei under the Satkosia wildlife division. Most of these places draw picnickers in large numbers, especially during the winter months.
A source said the government was keen to ensure the success of the ecotourism project as people like visiting wildlife sanctuaries, lakes and waterfalls.