Ramsagar boating club in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, July 1: The Ramsagar boating club in Sambalpur is losing its attraction due to lack of proper attention by the concerned authorities.

The boating club was developed to provide a place of recreation and amusement for the people of Sambalpur. But it has failed to serve the purpose.

“The boating club in Ramsagar pond was built in 2003. I have seen hundreds of people visit this boating club daily. But now the club has lost its attraction. These days we usually wait for visitors to come,” said Panchanan Sahu, an employee of the boating club.

“Earlier, during the evening, elderly people of the city used to visit this place. The visitors here had to pay two rupees for entry and an additional five rupees for boating. There was a music system for entertainment. The music system now is lying defunct. There is no light inside the club. Earlier, there were 10 boats. All of them are damaged now. The municipality has brought six more boats for the visitors. But these new boats are also lying unused as people have stopped coming here,” added Sahu.

“The Ramsagar pond is one of the oldest ponds in the city. We were happy when the pond was developed as a boating club. But now, because of the apathetic attitude of the municipality, the place has converted into a haven for the goons. The municipality should think of cleaning the water first. There should be light arrangement in the boating club,” said Sandhyarani Mohapatra, a local resident.

“If the municipality maintains the boating club properly, it will again attract visitors of the city and visitor from outside also. Sambalpur has a dearth of recreation places. But the one which could have served the purpose has been lying in utter negligence. Moreover, the municipality is dumping garbage around the boating club. They municipality should refrain from destroying the beautiful place,” said Balgopal Panigrahi, another local resident.

Reena Trivedi, chairman of Sambalpur Municipality said: “We have written to the government for the renovation of the boating club. The music system will be repaired very soon. The lights for the boating club will be arranged. Moreover, we have decided for plantation around the boating club.”