Lack of coordination between two departments of the Odisha government has stalled renovation work at Tampara lake in Ganjam district, meant to attract tourists to this serene natural tourism destination near Chatrapur.
Although late, the renovation work of tourism related infrastructure at this large water body was started in December 2015.
The work had been taken up by the State Tourism department through the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). But following objections from the Irrigation department, the renovation work was stopped in January 2016, delaying the project worth Rs.1.50 crore.
The State Tourism Minister had laid the foundation stone for the project in 2015.
According to Tourism department sources, the aim was to bring amenities at Tampara lake to its pre-Phailin status and add other facilities. Under the project, the jetty, toilet complex, rest house, lobby, dining hall, pathway, lighting facility were to be renovated on the banks of the large lake.
But on January 6, the State Irrigation department principal secretary during his visit to the Ganjam district reportedly objected to the construction work being taken up by the Tourism department saying that his department permission had not been taken. Following an official letter from the Irrigation department executive engineer, the OTDC had to stop renovation work at Tampara lake.
“We had brought this impasse to the notice of the Ganjam District Collector and higher authorities of the Tourism department. It was made clear that the renovation work was being taken up on two acres of land provided to the Tourism department and not on the Irrigation department land. The State Tourism director has also taken up the matter with his counterparts in the Irrigation department,” said tourism officer of Ganjam district Sanatan Nayak.
He hoped that the impasse would end soon and renovation work would be resumed soon.
But because of this delay, there might be escalation in cost of the project and it may get more delayed with the onset of monsoon in June.
The Irrigation official objected to renovation work without their permission
