The much-awaited Gopalpur Beach Festival was inaugurated by local MlA and Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy on Saturday evening.
However, absence of Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and local MP Siddhant Mohapatra and MlA Surjya Narayan Patra at the inaugural function raised many eyebrows. People congregated to witness launching of the festival could hardly listen about Gopalpur”s development programmes from the stage due to absence of the Minister and the MP.
While artistes from Brahmapur and Gopalpur performed Odissi and modern dances, Puri artists staged Gotipua and Narendrapur participants presented Jodi Santkha. A melody programme was conducted on behalf of Abhijit Mazumdar and Group.
What disappointed visitors the most is many of the 90 stalls were not opened. The Pallishree Mela put up by the ORMAS had only a few stalls. Though a sand art on AIDS created by Satya Moharana attracted many, unrestricted use of polythene displeased intellectuals. Children were an unhappy lot as Meena Bazaar could not be held due to unavailability of police permission.
Among others, Brahmapur MlA Dr RC Chyaupatnaik and MlAs of Sorada, Khollikote and Chhatrupur, Ganjam ZP President, Bhrampur Mayor, Gopalpur NAC Chairman and district Collector Premchand Choudhury were present.
On Sunday evening, programmes like child health show, child art competition and a star night by Kunal Goswami and Group were held.