A tourism ecological centre is going to be started at Sarafagarh area within the village of Badunjhar in Sundargarh district. Total of Rs 1.89 crore will be spent for developing the tourism centre. For the first time, the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is financing such a project. Moreover, the tourism spot is on the bank of Iccha river. A medium irrigation project is also supplying water to the surrounding crop fields of the locality. Its hilly terrain definitely can attract the tourists.
It has been proposed that the crop fields of the zone will be cultivated not by the modern agricultural practices but by the organic methods and indigenous practices. If the tourists wish they can join the agro-practices of the locality. Facilities like boating, bird watching, trekking, local folk dances and songs with campfire will be there for entertaining the visitors. This part of the district is very rich in different types of tribal races.
The local heritage like different tribal cultures within the heart of tropical sal forests and the activities of wild creatures during days and nights can be enjoyed by the tourists. This is not the only place in Odisha; there are also several other places in the hearts of forests of the State, which can be developed from tourism point of view to educate the youngsters. Such ecological tourist spots can be created, which can yield economic values as well as attract the youngsters to earn knowledge on nature and natural resources.
Districts like Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Boudh, Kandhamal, Angul, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Ganjam and Gajapati have several such spots where eco-tourism hubs can be established.
There is no single spot in Odisha, where there are facilities for study of field biology by students and teachers. The bird watching, watching of reptiles, land mammals and oceanic mammals and also all other oceanic creatures should be in the field study to impart proper practical training to the youngsters.
One field biologist should know the field botany, field zoology, and filed ecology, together to complete his knowledge on biology. Such facilities should be extended.
Similarly, a new venue is created at Khandadhar, which is found in Bonai revenue sub-division of Sundargarh district and on the border of Keonjhar district. There is a waterfall at the spot since time immoral. This is a perennial waterfall.
The view of the waterfall within the midst of tropical Sal forests is quite enjoyable and memorable. There is ample scope here for the tourists for studying the nature and to trek the hill tracts of the region both for enjoyments and for studying the flora and fauna. For the presence of the waterfall, the local climate of the region is moist and most of the moist bearing species are found in this mountainous field.
Very rich flora and fauna of varied nature are found in this field. So, a trekking for studying the nature and natural resources is a worth doing here.
The Forest and Environment Department has also extended scope for this. Here, one can come across wildlife like deer, barking deer, elephants, peacocks, wild boars, bisons, monkeys, beers etc with different kinds of birds within the nature’s abode. There are various medicinal plants in the locality and most of the ever-green plants generally favour this climate to come up. A large number of orchids of land and epiphytes are seen in the region. Really this is a land of paradise for botanists, zoologists and ecologists also. This is a botanical as well as zoological garden of nature. So far, the botanical potentialities like the orchids and epiphytes have not been studied. At present 41 tribal families were given responsibility to entertain tourists and communicate their cultural values by the Forest Department.
The tract is dominated by the tribe called Paudi Bhuina. Their language and folk dance are quite different from other tribes. There are various tribes and sub-tribes in Odisha, but Paudi-Bhuina type tribe is only available in Sundargarh and Keonjhar hilly regions and their culture is quite different from others. However, credit must go to the Steel Authority of India limited (SAIl), which has taken the responsibility for financing the ecotourism project. This is also a good picnic spot for local people.
As the steel town Rourkela is very near this locality, there is tremendous rush of picnic parties to the spot, especially during holidays. Similarly, from Keonjhar side of the fall, although it is not developed so much, but there is rush of people for picnic entertainments. There are also arrangements for tourists for their temporary stay by the State Forest Department.
The whole hill mass of the region acts as watershed as well as catchment areas of the Khandadhar waterfall. The soil of the land is full of iron ore. So, luxuriant sal crops are noticed. Now the different companies are interested to take this land for mining. The State Government is also equally interested to lease out the same for steel industries of the State. But it must be ensured that mining does not act as a deterrent of the growth of the locals.
Another spot going to be developed is Barehipani. It is a waterfall too, which forms a stream and becomes the tributary of the Budhabalanga river. Although it is within the national park of Similipal and its tiger reserve, no special attention for tourist at Barehipani waterfall has been given so far. Now, accommodation facilities for tourists are opened, where the tourists can stay and trek the terrain of the park. Similipal is a portion of the Eastern Ghat Range where topical sal and other species of forests are found.
Various ecological systems are found in the eco-region. There are tribal villages inside the Similipal forests. The tourists can enjoy folk dances and folklores here. There is ample scope for studying the nature and natural resources of the park. There are also tropical crocodiles like Gomuha in the stream; which can be enjoyed by the tourists. The crocodile is also locally known as mugger. Species like tiger, leopard, Chawsingha (four horned antelope), hyena, jungle cat, wild pig, spotted deer, Sambar, wolf, chital, mouse deer, gour, elephant, giant squirrel, peafowl, hill myna etc can be found here along with crocodiles and monitor lizards. This portion of Similipal is coming within the core areas of the Similipal Tiger Reserve.
(The writer is a former forest officer and environmentalist.Nadiya.kanungo@gmail.com, M-9937460649)