Nabarangpur, Feb, 27:The Hirli tourist spot and Kusumjhar Dam, located near Nabarangpur town, have fallen into a pitiable condition due to lack of maintenance. Plans are now underway to merge the two sites and develop a new tourism corridor, with all signs pointing to positive progress, according to the District Tourism Department.
The administration has already provided land to build housing for fire department staff and support landless families. Existing facilities such as roads, open gyms, and children’s parks have remained unused so far. Assurances have been given for their proper development.
Last August, during a district visit, Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida discussed the development of Hirli and instructed the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). Before the DPR is approved, the State Tourism Department has sanctioned a grant of Rs 7 crore for Hirli’s development. After DPR approval and departmental instructions, the tendering process will begin.
The Hirli Mountain Development Committee, formed by the administration, has proposed several attractions, including planting Radhauda and Krishnachuda trees, constructing a police control room, bio-toilets, a yoga center, and an observation tower.
Near Kusumjhar Dam, plans include building a jetty and beautifying the area with 20 small platforms, said District Tourism Officer Jagadish Ray.
The estimated cost for the project is Rs 48 crore, pending approval. The Tourism Department, along with the Minor Irrigation Department, has submitted a DPR worth ₹48.28 crore to the state government for the development of both sites.
The Hirli area covers 50.15 acres, and after converting 7.40 acres of government land for construction, some individuals illegally occupied the land and built two palace-style structures. Over Rs3 crore has already been spent on various tourist facilities under the name of tourism development, including open gyms and other attractions.
In June, during a high-level meeting, discussions on Hirli tourism development were held, and Minister of Commerce and Transport, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, visited the site to review the development plans.
Leave a Reply