Waste dumped in the water of the stream in Harisankar. Telegraph picture

Balangir, March 2: Dirt and filth have overshadowed the enchanting landscape, perennial natural springs and the temple of Shiva and Vishnu in Harisankar.

Though Harisankar, situated in the foothill of famous Gandhamardan hills, is a popular tourist spot, it has lost much of its charm due to poor maintenance, said local residents. The unhygienic conditions has resulted in a marked decline in the number of people thronging the area though Mahashivratri was celebrated with all pomp and gaiety today.

Baikuntha Sahu, who lives near Harisankar said that there was not much crowd during today’s celebrations. “Normally pilgrims throng Harisankar in huge numbers during Mahashivaratri, but this year the number has gone down drastically. There is very poor maintenance and even on a festival day like today nothing has been done to clean the place. For this, people have stopped coming here and they are opting for other Shiva temples,” Sahu said.

Except for the temple premise there is heaps of dirt all over the place. The perennial stream that touches the mountain feet at Harisankar is utilized for irrigation and for use of the locals. “The stream water is managed by the minor irrigation department which is used for irrigation and also for household use by the local and bathing purpose by the pilgrims. But all waste materials by the tourists and from the temple are dumped into the stream water making it unsuitable for use”, he said.

“I found Harisankar a beautiful place. The mountain, the stream and the greenery makes it worth visiting. But I found the place extremely dirty. Polythene bags, leftover food and waste from the temple are strewn all over the place. The government must take measures to clean up the place,” said a pilgrim Anamika Mishra.

“Several people have drawn my attention to the unhealthy situation in Harisankar. This has happened because there is no one to maintain the place. But soon we are going to make arrangements to ensure cleanliness in Harisankar,” district tourist officer Gautam Nag said.