The district administration this year celebrated the World Tourism Day here by organising a heritage rally from Ichhapur High School to the Baladevjew temple.
District Collector Debaraj Senapati flagged off the rally in which the District Tourism Officer Bijay Kumar Mohanty and school students participated, highlighting theme of “one billion tourists, one billion opportunities.” The objective was to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.
Ironically, the 400- year-old Baladevjew temple, also known as Tulashi Khetra, remains a picture of neglect, thanks to callous attitude and lack of interest shown by the district tourism department, district administration and the temple’s Endowment Board.
Though, the temple got a pride place in the district tourist map and is in the pipeline to be included under Swadesh Darshan Scheme, but due to lack of infrastructural development, the tourist spot failed to allure many tourists.
Most of the time, power cuts are done and a generator installed at the temple since long left unused. Even another 30 KV diesel generator that was donated by Paradip Stevedoring Association and installed at the temple premises in January 2014 is not used. So darkness prevails most often at night.
During rainy days, the temple premises faces worst water logging as the drainage for releasing the water from the temple is poor. Most of the time during the celebration of festivity at the temple, one comes across acute shortage of water. Heaps of banana leaf used for taking Prasad pile up in the temple premises for more than 24 hours by creating unhygienic condition.
The major problem that tourists and pilgrims face here is during night.There are no such facilities for night halt a park has been made near the Baladevjew temple, it is yet to be opened for tourists and pilgrims and most of the fiber statues installed in the park have been destroyed, stated locals.
When contacted, Executive Officer of Baladevjew Temple Endowment Niranjan Behera stated that steps would be taken to sort out problems of the temple.
According to DTO Mohanty, he has given a proposal to the Tourism Department to disburse a sum of Rs 38 lakh for completing the half constructed Jatri Niwas near the temple.
Similarly, to make the beautification of the dilapidated park, a sum of Rs 10 lakh will be spent. A proposal in this regard has been made before the State Government.
Meanwhile, strong resentment has been brewing among the devotees of Baladevjew against some sebayats for violating the age old tradition.