Bolangir: Due to Odisha government's failure to send a proposal to the Centre on time, four prominent tourist places in western parts of the state have failed to get Rs 50 crore for development.
Though Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma during his visit to Bolangir in June last year had directed the State officials to send a proposal on development of Nrushinghanath temple in Bargarh, Harishankar and Ranipur Jharial in Bolangir and Patora dam in Nuapada, the report was not sent on time following which the Centre could not release the funds.
The Union Tourism Minister on June 9, had said, "I have asked the state officials to send a proposal for development of the four places."
According to sources, the State also missed a chance to include Nrusinghnath Temple, Harishankar and Ranipur Jharial under the UNESCO heritage site list.
BJP legislature party leader KV Singh Deo stated, "The Union Minister had directed the State to send the proposal by September 2016. But, by the time the State government sent the proposal to Delhi, the deadline was over."
Meanwhile, Food and Civil supplies minister SN Patro stated on the sidelines of a function in Bolangir that surely the State will send a proposal on time this year.
Expressing similar views Bolangir District Culture Officer, Bijay Kumar Satpathy stated, "As from cultural and religious point of view, Harishankar and Ranipur Jharial are two prominent places in Bolangir and development work must be carried out. This year the administration would send a fresh proposal at the earliest."