Rourkela, Jan. 1: Residents have welcomed the government's decision to fast-track completion of two amenity centres near Khandadhar waterfalls in Sundargarh district.

The two amenity centres are coming up near the waterfalls on the national highway-143 near Birtola and on state highway 10-A near Lalei.

The two projects are being developed keeping in mind the many tourists who visit the waterfalls, around 90km from here.

Bonai sub-divisional officer Bijay Mohanty, who is in charge of the projects, said they would be completed on time. "Work is in progress at Birtola where we have reached the plinth level and the layout work has been completed at Lalei," said Mohanty.

Both amenity centres are being built at a cost of Rs 63 lakh each. "Both centres will have a cafeteria, drinking water facilities, lavatory, children's park, rest shade and parking for buses and cars," said Mohanty.

The centres are being built over an area of one and half acres.

At present, the drinking water facility at Lalei is being completed, while work on the Birtola project is going on very fast, said Mohanty.

Local residents at Bonai are happy with the projects. Hema Chandra Pradhan, a resident of Bonai and a social activist, said: "We are really happy that the projects, especially the one at Lalei, are going to be completed on time." Both areas have been set up at vantage points so for use by both commuters and tourists.<> "I am sure once these two projects are completed, Khandadhar will see more flow of tourists," said Mohanty.

Khandadhar is almost equal distance - 15 kilometres - from both the projects.

However, tribal people residing near Lalei were opposing the project claiming that the land falls under forest category. However, it was found the land at Lalei did not fall under forest category. "It was not the tribals, rather some people with vested interests who were instigating them as it would hamper their business," said a faculty member of Gurundia College, Tapan Dandia.