Paradip, Dec. 21: Luxury boats worth Rs 4 crore, procured by the state forest department in July for safe and comfortable journey of tourists, are lying idle at Bhitarkanika.

Four multi-hulled luxury vessels were bought from the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme around five months ago. But, the vessels have not yet been used even once as the state's forest department does not have skilled members to operate them.

All the four vessels are being anchored at Gupti ferry ghat on the southern part of the national park boundary.

'Comfort is the hallmark of these boats. It is spacious enough to accommodate 20 adult tourists at a time. It's a noise-less and pollution-free travel. Besides, each multi-hulled boat has flush toilet for the convenience of the travellers,' said forest range officer Akshaya Nayak.

An official said the forest department did not have technical manpower to use them. These have been obtained from a Goa-based craft-manufacturing company adhering to the global tender procedures. Besides comfort, the eco-friendly vessels are equipped with safety mechanism, said officer of the Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division Kedar Kumar Swain.

However, the vessels are yet to serve the purpose for which they were bought in absence of the skilled boatmen who can operate such multi-hulled boats. The matter has already been referred to higher-ups for early end to the deadlock.

'The boats are lying idle. Since we don't have the skilled manpower to operate the boats, we wanted the government to either recruit boatmen, who can operate them or outsource it to a private operator. Each of the boat requires at least five skilled people to run it,' Swain said. 'It's lack of foresight on part of the forest department that has led to the prevailing imbroglio. Before procuring the luxury vessels, the department should have engaged skilled personnel, who have knowledge about these vessels. Instead, boats were hurriedly bought without giving much thought to its operation. This is nothing but waste of government money,' said a tourist operator, Pradeep Das.

The Bhitarkanika National Park is famous for its saltwater crocodiles, resident and migrant avian species and large varieties of mangrove species. Besides, many endangered olive ridley sea turtles turn up at the Gahirmatha beach every year for mass nesting. As many as 1,644 crocodiles were enumerated in the national park this year.

Nearly, 20 private motorboats are operating in and around the park. 'We receive about 50,000 tourists a year. Our emphasis is on comfortable journey of the visitors, who throng this place in a large number every year. The vessels are the latest attractions for tourists. We hope to make them operational shortly,' said an official.