Following repeated requests from different quarters, the State Government has finally started a process to develop the Ramalingeswar Tank in Brahmapur to a water sports site now.
The Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) had earlier made a detail project report (DPR) to create various facilities for different kinds of water sports at the pond.
Earlier when a cleaning drive had been undertaken on behalf of the BMC, the trust, which owns the pond, had approached a court against the move.
However, with the efforts of BMC Mayor K Madhavi and some BJD leaders, the trust withdraw the case and agreed in written to covert the pond into a water sports platform.
Consequently, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid foundation stone in February this year for the purpose. Again when construction works were delayed, the nearby hotels started dumping wastes and polluted it.
On Monday, a team of Odisha Sewerage Board led by Member Secretary Manorjanja Das visited the pond. The team too held a discussion with the BMC Mayor, Commissioner Susant Mishra and Engineer Ashim Mishra on the DPR to develop the pond into a water sports venue.
Denizens of Brahmapur have welcomed the move.