Tourist complex lying neglected

The New Indian Express, Sept 28, 2007
UMA SHANKAR KAR

BHAWANIPATNA: Even as the Government boasts of promoting tourism, specially eco-tourism, in the State, the pathetic condition of the tourist complex building here speaks otherwise.

The complex, set up at Thuamul Rampur of Kalahandi district to boost tourism, is lying abandoned and uncared for.

Construction of the complex, started in 1992 with an estimated cost of Rs 39 lakh, took 12 years. But over the years the project cost escalated to Rs 45 lakh.

The building was not taken over by the Tourism Department from the construction agency, the Public Works Department, as the general PHED and electricity departments did not complete the fittings. The building is lying abandoned and with no security to keep a watch on it a public school has taken over a part of it.

PWD Executive Engineer Ashis Kumar Badpanda said several reminders to take over the building have been sent to the Tourism Department but to no avail.

On the other hand, the tourism complex work at Beheraguda on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna too is in a deplorable condition. The work on the complex was initiated in 1992 through PWD at Rs 31 lakh.

After constructing it up to the plinth level the contractor abandoned it. Ironically no action was taken either against the contractor or the engineers.

Both the tourist complexes were initiated during the tenure of late chief minister Biju Patnaik. With his son, Naveen Patanik, in power people here are hoping against hope that these buildings would function soon.