Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120250860200.htm

Other States - Orissa

Barunei hills to get facelift soon

Correspondent

Rs. 1.8-crore grant has been sanctioned

The project is mooted by district administration, Tourism Directorate and urban body
State Government will be providing Rs. 10 lakhs for construction of steps to reach the hilltop

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.

Basic amenities

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.