The State Government has decided to implement a beach cleaning initiative soon to promote beach tourism and attract more tourists.
Tourism and Culture Minister Maheswar Mohantay on Friday said the beach cleaning project would be implemented by the State Tourism in the beaches covering Puri, Ganjam, Kenrapada and Baleswar districts at an estimated cost of Rs 2.20 crore.
After a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat, the Minister told reporters that an integrated beach cleaning project would be undertaken very soon in the sprawling Puri beach by spending Re 1 crore. The Tourism Department has already completed the tender process for cleaning the beach through a private company.
Mohanty said the project includes installation of dustbins and deployment of lifeguards to be pressed into service in emergencies at the time of drowning cases.
Besides, Puri, he said, the Tourism Department has already sanctioned Rs 53.56 lakh in favour of Collector of Kendrapada district under the project to take up regular cleaning of the Pentha and Barunei beachs, Rs 28.39 crore in respect of Baleswar Collector for undertaking beach cleaning in Chandipur, Kasaphala, Chhaumukha Dagar, Talasari and Udayapurs.
Similarly, Rs 36.52 lakh has been sanctioned in favour of the Ganjam Collector to implement the initiative in the Gopalpur, Pati Sonepur, Dhabaleswar and Tampera beaches.