Former Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to sanction Rs 100 crore for development of tourism infrastructure in Balangir district.
In a letter to Chief Minister recently, Singh Deo pointed out that Balangir in the past was an important centre of art, craft and culture in western Odisha, but the district has been traditionally neglected. However, despite having tremendous potential for tourism, lack of resources and focus hindered growth of the tourism sector, said Singh Deo and lamented that the number of visitors to Balangir district has been dwindling over the years.
World-class tourist sites such as Harishankar and Ranipur Jharial in Balangir have not been tapped to their full potential.
One of the oldest airstrips in the State at Tusura has been left out of the UDAAN scheme. The Koshal Kalamandal, a 10 acre field given by RN Singh Deo, for promoting cultural activities in Balangir and western Odisha, is now lying in neglect, Singh Deo pointed out.He demanded Rs 20 crore for construction of a cable car project between Harishankar and Nrusinghnath, which was proposed in the WODC in 2018, Rs 10 crore for infrastructure and sound light show at Ranipur Jharial along with a museum, Rs15 crore for a multipurpose auditorium and amphitheater at Koshal Kalamandal, Rs 15 crore to increase runway length and create infrastructure to accommodate larger aircraft so that Tusura can be included under UDAAN phase II/III and Rs 10 crore for other tourist sites of the district to create a tourist circuit.