Kandhamal: With winter gradually setting in, tourists from Odisha and outside have started thronging Daringbadi, considered as ‘Kashmir of Odisha’ in Kandhamal district. However, several tourist spots in the hill station are reeling under neglect due to lack of patronage from the Odisha government.
Several mountain ranges, Midubanda Waterfall and Hill View Park are the main tourist destinations in Daringbadi, but no step is being taken by the concerned authorities to develop it, alleged local residents.
Due to a lack of proper road connectivity in the form of pucca roads to the Midubanda Waterfall, the visitors have to face a lot of difficulties to reach the spot.
Besides, the tourist complex inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the year 2003 has virtually turned into home for the birds and insects due to lack of proper maintenance.
Similarly, the toy train and tribal museum at the Hill View Park are lying defunct since a long time triggering resentment among the tourists.
“The toy train is lying defunct. The park is meant for the children and they would enjoy riding it. The authorities should take steps for reviving such facilities here,” rued Saptashri Mishra, a tourist from Kolkata.
“Thousands of tourists visit Daringbadi every year and they have been expressing displeasure over poor facilities and lack of measures by concerned authorities to develop such tourist spots here,” said a tourist guide, Mathews Digal.
Women members of Indira Self-Help Group (SHG) have now taken up the task of repairing and cleaning the road leading to Midubanda waterfall after no step was taken by the concerned officials.
“Even if tourists want, they cannot visit the spot owing to lack of proper road connectivity. Despite our repeated requests to the Block Development Officer (BDO), no step was taken for its repairs,” alleged secretary of the SHG, Subhasini Singh.
Meanwhile, Daringbadi BDO Trilochan Patra said, “The concerned officials have been asked to repair the toy train at Hill View within 15 days. Steps will also be taken to renovate the other tourist spots here.”