The Pentha beach in Kendrapara district. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Aug. 26: The sea beach at Pentha in Kendrapara district is lying in utter neglect with no infrastructure for visitors.

It’s a virgin beach situated amid idyllic surroundings. Close to the beach is the luxuriant forest cover along the Barunei river mouth that adds to the attraction of the spot.

“The beach has all potential to emerge as a major tourist destination. It can be compared to famous Puri and Konark beaches. But very little has been done to develop the area,” said a local tourist operator Ratikanta Mohanty.

There is a scope to develop the beach, especially since the World Bank-funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP) has already been launched. The medieval age Jagannath temple at Pentha has been refurbished under coastal heritage restoration programme.

According to Kedar Kumar Swain, divisional forest officer of Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division, once the road connectivity to the place is improved, there will be immense tourist inflow to Pentha and Barunei. It will also open employment opportunities for local people.

Tourism could become a viable tool for economic growth of the villages located near the Pentha beach. The forest department, too, was ready to assist the tourist wing to develop the area as a tourist spot, said Swain.

“Once the beach has basic infrastructure facilities, tourists footfalls will increase,” said Anupam Ghosal, a tourist from Calcutta.

District tourism officer Bijoy Kumar Mohanty said: “We have sent a proposal for development of Pentha as a tourism destination. First, we will improve the road condition and set up small guest houses for the tourists.”