The State administration has zeroed in on the river mouth at Banki Muhana to develop a first-ever sand art park of the country.
A team of officials led by Tourism Principal Secretary Mona Sharma surveyed the site and discussed modalities of the proposed park on Tuesday. District Collector Arvind Agarwal provided the details to the team.
Odisha has acquired a unique distinction in the field of sand art. The State Government has decided to initiate measures to popularise the art on a larger scale, Sharma said. The park site would have facilities like a multilayer parking to accommodate the visitors’ vehicles, she said.
“To transform the Puri beach into a model ‘Swachh’ beach, we may engage more contractors or equip the existing agency with additional apparatus and financial support,” Sharma added.
Collector Agarwal said that while the Department of Tourism would maintain the park, the district administration would be responsible for the day-to-day activities at this facility.
“The park will include a workshop, where training on sand art will be conducted, apart from permanent display of sand sculptures featuring an array of themes throughout the year,” Agarwal said.
Internationally-acclaimed Puri-based sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik said the park, when developed, must have maximum visibility and located close to the city. “The proposed park will draw a large number of tourists from around the world,” he added.