In a move to attract tourists from outside Odisha and enhance the existing tourist footfall, the State government has sanctioned total Rs 45 crore for development of 14 major dams and reservoirs, an official source said today.
Development of peripheral areas of the selected water bodies will be taken up soon. However, a few more will be added in subsequent phases. State Water Resources department has accorded to provide funds for the purpose and the projects have been targeted to be completed within three years.
According to a senior official in the department, infrastructure like boating facility, restaurant and cafeteria, pindi for picnicking, provision for drinking water, special walking track for tourists, parking area and ropeway will be constructed at dams and reservoirs identified for the first phase.
A fund of Rs 4,33,00,000 has been granted for the peripheral infrastructure development of Lower Indravati irrigation project of Nuapada district. Similarly, Rs 4,63,05,000 has been sanctioned for tourism infra development of Mangalpur barrage at Upper Indravati irrigation project of Kalahandi, Rs 4,63,05,000 has been sanctioned for the tourism infra development of Mangalpur barrage at Upper Indravati irrigation project of Kalahandi, Rs 5 crore for Bhanjanagar dam of Ganjam, Rs 4 crore for construction of museum and park near Pitamahal dam of Sundargarh, Rs 4 crore for museum and park near Deras dam of Khordha, Rs 4 crore for museum and park near Hirakud dam of Sambalpur, Rs 3 crore for tourism infra development of Ghodahada dam under Digapahandi block of Ganjam.
In addition, Rs 4 crore has been granted for peripheral development of Dhanei dam under Polsara block of Ganjam, Rs 2 crore for construction of museum and park near Kanajhari dam of Keonjhar, Rs 2 crore for museum and park near Salandi dam of Bhadrak, Rs 2 crore for museum and park near Upper Kolab dam of Koraput, Rs 2 crore for construction of museum and park near Kanajhari dam of Keonjhar.
Furthermore, Rs 2 crore each has been accorded for the construction of museum and park near Kuanria dam of Nayagarh, Sanamaccha Kandana MIP of Keonjhar and Khadakhai dam of Mayurbhanj.
