Boating facilities to be set up in 100 tourist destination sites in Odisha by December says CS
Bhubaneswar, Jul 9 : Odisha government is planning to start boating facilities at one hundred tourist spots by December this year to add more colour to the eco tourism and attract tourists.
Presiding over a meeting, state Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra today directed the Forest & Environment, Water Resources and Tourism departments to identify around 100 spots through joint verification for launching the boating facilities.
The departments were asked to finalize the list in a month.
Mr Mahapatra directed to set the floating jetties and boats in quick sessions, and to start the activities by December this year.
He said the locations should be identified on the basis of the objective criteria of their competitiveness for being popularized in the tourism market and offering exotic experiences to the tourists.
The Chief Secretary said ‘’Proper choice of the location and their popularization will attract private investment to the sector soon, and it will take the State’s eco-tourism to next higher level”.
He directed to put in place proper safety measures in boats and boating spots, adopt a community management model with appropriate training to the local community, VSS and WSHG groups for operation and management of the facilities.
Odisha has around 118 small and big dams including the major dams like Hirakud, Mandira, Patora, Deras, Hadgarh, Pitamahal, Jhumka, Indrabati, Kolab, Kunaria, Sarafgarh, Godhahada, Kanjhari and Sarbgarh .
Similarly, the State is bestowed with the natural lakes like Chilika, Ansupa, Pata, Kanjia , Hiarkud ten major river basins namely Mahanadi, Bramhani, Baitarani, Rusikulya, Bansadhara, Nagabali, Kolab, Indravati, Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga.
Besides, there are many river confluences among these rivers and their tributaries. These places offer an ideal sites for boating activities.
UNI
