The State Government on Wednesday decided to redouble its efforts to keep all tourist places clean and provide better facilities to the tourists.
A meeting chaired by Chief Secretary BK Patnaik decided that a dedicated machinery will be put in place for protection of monuments and cleaning of tourist places on a regular basis. There are around 320 tourist places and 296 protected monuments out of which 78 are maintained by Archeological Society of India. Cleaning of surrounding of monuments and heritage sites in urban locations will be the job of respective local bodies.
Cleaning of the Grand Road in Puri will be done through Puri Konark Development Authority (PKDA) by engaging an agency having expertise in sanitation works.
It has also decided that local development committees (LDCs) will be constituted under the chairmanship of district collectors to look into cleanliness of tourist spots and other places of tourist interest in the State.
Culture and Tourism Secretary Ashok Kumar Tripathy told that Beach Development Committee has started functioning in Puri and Konark. The LDC in Tikarpada is also maintaining the spot well. It was decided that same model will be followed in other places as well.
Patnaik directed the Tourism Department to arrange an interactive session among the LDCs so that they can share the best practices among themselves. The department was also advised to recognise the work of well performing committees.
Issues relating to cleanliness and creation of public convenience near important temples and monuments in and around Bhubaneswar was also discussed. It was decided that the patch of land available on the western side of Rajarani temple will be developed into a parking place and the temple will be properly illuminated.
Similarly, road map for development of parking places, construction of toilets, drainage, removal of encroachment, prohibition of illegal structures, removal of hoardings that block the view of important temples were also discussed.
ASI was requested to clean Papanasini Tank and the drain from Lingaraj temple to the tank.
Encroachments hindering construction of the road behind Ananta Vasudev temple will be removed soon for timely completion. Land for the purpose has been acquired and handed over to the Works Department.
Patnaik wanted focused attention for protection of tourists in sea beach and directed banning of bathing at unsafe places of the sea.