Tourists who stay at forest rest house at Kechki flee from here to have a night sleep at Betla about 10 Kms away from Kechki. They are afraid to stay at night in this forest rest house which is located on the confluence of two rivers Ouranga and Koyal. Desolation and eerie silence except the noises coming from the rivers there is nothing to keep the tourists bound at night here in this forest rest house said locals.
Night at this forest rest house Kechki is no romantic despite sand, water and rivers said many as there is no surety of electricity supply here and since this forest rest house has no generator set or solar light once the power is gone the rest house plunges into darkness.
Anil Kumar Mishra Deputy Director, North, PTR under whom comes this forest rest house admitted that tourists run away from here at night and ask Betla PTR officials to adjust them there.
Mishra said this puts Betla officials under pressure because adjustment for sleep is just too difficult at night. On why there is no gen set or solar panel here Mishra said, “We had solar panel here but it was stolen. We cannot afford to have generator set here because of this theft incident.”
Asked the security could be strengthened up here to which Mishra said they had put up four guards here but their stock in trade saying is that six people with faces masked came and stole the articles of this rest house.
This Kechki forest rest house has good airy and sunny rooms but lack of amenities like safe drinking water is a big miss here. There is one tube well and because of its proximity to rivers it gives somewhat turbid water unfit to consume said one guard Ravi here.
There is no water purifier system here since power supply is erratic. Except for tea tourists are to arrange for their food for themselves and this is its drawback said sources.
On being asked if PTR can offer three of its rooms here on two hour rent basis which will include room, bath room, light refreshment, tea, cold drinks for which PTR may take a fee for the 2 hr occupancy and services Mishra said it could be placed before the field director PTR M P Singh as it is feasible and revenue earning too.
Mishra has one fear that young boys and girls come here and indulge in love making and a 2 hr room occupancy may give a fillip to such profane things.
Sources said under eco tourism plan this forest rest house can be upgraded as AK Mishra said we have no separate fund at all for face lifting or improving or strengthening the facilities and amenities for the tourists in PTR.
