In memorandums to district Collector Samarth Verma on Thursday, more than 25 outfits in the city strongly opposed the proposal to set up shacks along the Puri-Konark beach for tourists. Sharply criticising the move, the outfits urged the Collector to revisit the proposal and desist from it.
The Belabhumi Madamukti Abhijan threatened to take the protest to the State level unless the State Government withdraws the proposal. Abhijan convener Chakradhar Mahapatra said that if shacks are opened on the beach, where wine would be served, it would hurt the religious sentiments as a lot of Hindu rituals like holy dips, lighting and funerals are observed on the beach all along the year. Puri Gobardhan Peetha Sankaracharya Swami Nischilananda Saraswati also strongly denounced the move by the Government on the plea of boosting tourism. He said the step is directionless and very opposite to religious values of the place.
“A place of pilgrimage should not be divested for amusement. The Government must heed the very custom and tradition of the place. The Government has not yet sought my opinion before taking such a decision,” said Saraswati.
Notably, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has invited tender from private parties for opening five shacks along beach from Konark to Puri. Various persons, including hoteliers here, have applied for participation in tender, the last date of which is Friday.