Other States - Orissa   

Barunei hills to get facelift soon

BHUBANESWAR: The historic Barunei hills near here are poised for a major facelift soon both as a major destination for the pilgrims, picnickers and tourists as well.

The Barunei Development Committee (BDC) that has been formed as part of the government’s public-private-partnership initiative will expedite the move to develop the hills as tourist locals.

BDC Chairperson and Additional District Magistrate of Khurda, Manoranjan Patnaik, informed that the district administration in association with the State Tourism Directorate and the local urban body has mooted an ambitious action plan for development of theregion to explore its tourism potentials.

The district has received a grant of Rs.1.8 crore from the Union Tourism Ministry under the tourism circuit development scheme and Barunei’s development would be taken up with the grant, he said.

Besides, the State Government would provide Rs.10 lakh towards construction of steps to reach the hilltop, he added. Patnaik further revealed that Collector N.C. Jena, local legislator Jetu Mitra and officers of the Revenue, Panchayati Raj and various urban development departments had a meeting at Barunei on Saturday to discuss about the details of the development project.

On a priority basis, provisions of drinking water, light, toilets and parking space would be ensured while an open-air theatre would also be constructed to mount cultural programmes at the venue, the ADM informed.

In view of the ongoing tourism season in the State, the premises would be cleaned and street lights would be fixed within a week, he added.

In consultation with the Forest Department, efforts are on to develop a deer park and a herbal garden at the foothills, it was learnt.

The Collector has, however, expressed his resentment over the non-cooperation from the industrial units, which are operating around the hills in contributing towards the development initiatives being taken by the district administration to enhance the tourism potential of the region.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Active participation of teachers stressed for quality education
Barunei hills to get facelift soon
14 pugilists from the State honoured
Traditional ‘pala’ finds patrons
Call for awareness about AIDS
Arrangements in place for BMC polls
ART centre to be opened
Urban body elections today
Nun’s plea on test identification parade
Varsity main gate locked
Opposition stalls Assembly proceedings
Two held in murder case
Court directive
Sound pollution

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu