Ganga Mandir Tank near the Netaji Birthplace Museum in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 14: The state tourism department is yet to come up with its ambitious plan of creating an amusement and recreational zone at the Netaji Birthplace Museum.

The plan to create water sports facilities as part of a Rs 2.36 crore ‘Destination Tourism Project’ is yet to take off as the revenue department has not accorded sanction for use of the sprawling waterbody adjacent to the museum for the purpose.

The plan is to be implemented at the Ganga Mandir Tank where the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) will develop necessary infrastructure for establishing a boating club and floating jetty. A senior CDA official, however, said: “There is little to blame the revenue department for this as the state housing and urban development department had not moved the proposal for the required sanction.”

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of the project on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23 this year.

“The plan envisages transformation of the surrounding areas of the museum into an amusement and recreational zone to position it as a major tourism destination,” tourism minister Debi Prasad Mishra had said.

The central government had sanctioned Rs 2.36 crore for development of the museum under the tourism project.

Details of the project, targeted to be completed within a year, indicated that Rs 26.28 lakh had been earmarked for creating infrastructure for a boating club and floating jetty, while another Rs 87.36 lakh has been allocated for refurbishing of Ganga Mandir Tank.

The state tourism department had decided to implement the project in association with the CDA. “We have already submitted a proposal to the government for alienation of Ganga Mandir Tank for the purpose of creating an amusement-cum-water sports complex,” CDA vice-chairman R.N. Nanda told The Telegraph.

“Implementation of the plan will follow after formal transfer of the waterbody to the CDA,” Nanda said. Sources said the CDA had submitted proposal for according of sanction of Ganga Mandir Tank without charging any premium as it would be used for public utility purposes.

“Development of Ganga Mandir Tank near the Netaji Birthplace Museum planned under the project is imperative to keep the surrounding areas free from anti-social activities after sunset,” said Sushanta Mohanty (46), a resident of Ganga Mandir area.

Apart from creation of an amusement and recreational zone with water sports facilities, the ‘Destination Tourism Project’ also envisaged construction of a state-of-the-art public convenience-cum-interpretation centre at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 1 crore.

“The public convenience-cum- interpretation centre will be equipped with many facilities to initiate visitors into the life and times of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The centre will also house conference and meeting halls. Kiosks, as well a souvenir and memorabilia shops, would also be set up inside it. Toilets and other basic amenities would also be provided for visitors here,” said a CDA official.