Balasore, April 22: A park built during the pre-Independence era in the memory of martyr Baghajatin, lies in a sorry state in the district.

Although it had been attracting tourists from far and wide, being a martyr-worshiping venue for Odisha as well as Bengal, it now needs urgent government support.

The park is replete with weeds and growth of wild vegetation due to lack of maintenance. The biggest hurdle in maintenance of the park is fund constraints.

Although a local resident used to maintain the park situated in Chasakhand, however it lost its charm ever since he died about six years ago.

The park has been attracting tourists as well as picnickers for a long time. This memorial that preserves a precious portion of Odisha’s history of freedom struggle is now in need of immediate attention.

A local resident Tuna Mohapatra said: “The park is ruined now. A boat that was used for trips in the pond is also in dilapidated state due to lack of care.

The tableaux of the fights of the martyr Baghajatin with the British army, depicted in concrete structures have become disfigured in the want of care. Due to lack of security, the place has turned into a den of goons now.”

Every year on September 10, the death anniversary of Baghajatin, not only do the local people and officials of district administration visit the place to pay tribute, but also the Rakta Tirtha Yatri from Bengal. Two separate associations, Baghjatin Bikash Parishad and Baghajatin development committee host programmes on the day here, which is the place where Baghajatin sacrificed his life.

Born in 1879 in Kustia district of then Bengal, the martyr fell to British bullets on September 10, 1915, after he had a fierce bullet fight along with his four companions, against the force headed by Charles A. Teggart. He suffered critical bullet injuries and succumbed while undergoing treatment in the headquarters hospital at Barabati in Balasore, now a government girls’ high school.

“Unfortunately, except the death anniversary day neither does any official nor local residents visit the place or pay attention to the place,” said Haren Chandra Rana, the secretary of the Baghajatin development committee.

“Besides the memorial, the park built in 80s on about five acres of land is itself an attraction for tourists. It was developed with the initiative of then chairman of Balasore Municipality, Sukumar Nayak. After death of Maguni Dash who took great interest and care of the park, it has become almost an abandoned patch, ” he said.

President of Baghajatin Bikash Parisad, Ananta Biswal, said that the place had become a victim of government apathy. “Earlier Maguni Dash had been the custodian and he was managing the expenditure required to maintain the park out of entrance fee. He even contributed a lot from his own pockets for the beautification of the park. But, after his demise there is no one who showed genuine interest in it,” Biswal said. “It never received any fund from the state government and the department has been indifferent towards it,” he said.

The district tourism officer Biswajit Rautray said: “The government has not given any fund for the place although it recognises the value of the site. A proposal within an estimate of Rs 10 lakh would be sent to the department for its development along with another historic site at Inchudi.”