The shooting tower in Bhitarkanika National Park. Telegraph picture

Paradip, May 28: A century-old tower that the erstwhile feudatory rulers used for hunting wild animals is languishing in a dilapidated state in the Bhitarkanika National Park.

The unique structure, 50-foot-tall with in-built holes to track the animals’ movement, is wallowing in neglect, thanks to the apathy of national park authorities.

At present, the typical structure is serving the purpose of a watchtower for the tourists and visitors. Tourists are able to savour a bird’s eye view of the breathtaking beauty of the mangrove cover and innumerable water inlets in the national park, apart from wildlife, from the top of the tower.

The structure, built during 1920 by Rajendra Narayan Bhanjdeo, the erstwhile king of Kanika, has fallen prey to the vagaries of nature. The salinated atmospheric impact has taken a toll on it. The tower is now contending with corrosion and decay. Absence of periodic maintenance has led to the steady decay of it.

The tower is being renovated under eco-tourism programme. As it is located in the heart of mangrove forest area, it is strategically significant for eco-tourism. The tourists are permitted to climb the steps of structure to catch glimpse of the bounties of nature in this internationally acclaimed wetland site, said forest officer of the Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division Manoj Kumar Mahapatra.

From time to time, the department has been undertaking minor repair work of the tower. Earlier, it was lying in an abandoned state. After the repair work, it has aroused the tourists’ curiosity, Mahapatra said.

The tower is a reminder of the fact that hunting was a traditional pastime of the feudatory rulers during pre-Independence. The shooting tower was built near a big pond and grazing ground covering about 20 acres. The animals were drawn to the spot for water and grazing ground.

During the British Raj, killing animals and preserving the wildlife trophies was a popular pastime for aristocrats, rulers of princely and feudatory states and zamindars. But with the dawn of Independence, the wildlife protection act was enacted imposing stringent penal action on hunting. However, the hunting tower is still intact, and it carries the legacy of pronounced wildlife poaching before the country attained freedom from foreign rule.

“Climbing up the tower in Bhitarkanika was a memorable experience. I was amazed to watch the scenic beauty from the tower’s top. The structure needs renovation,” said Rajendra Mishra, a tourist.