Tampara Lake to be developed as tourist hub soon

Berhampur (Odisha): The Centre has recently sanctioned Rs 33.43 crore for development of tourism infrastructure at Tampara Lake near Chhatrapur in Odisha’s Ganjam district, a govt official said here today. The state government is planning to make Tampara a major tourist destination under the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme, District Tourist Officer Sanatan Nayak said.

The infrastructure around Tampara, about 2 km from NH-16, was damaged when cyclone Phailin lashed Odisha in 2013. The facilities in the area, including jetty, street lights, a sports complex and adjacent roads, are in need of immediate repair, he said. A detailed project report to this effect is being prepared by the Berhampur Development Authority (BDA), said an official of the planning body.

“The roads will be widened and measures will be initiated to develop a tourist reception centre, solid waste management and solar lighting system in the area. Besides, facilities like a water park, eco-cottages, two jetties, a trekking path and parking spaces would be developed at Tampara,” said BDA secretary Dipti Mohapatra.

The 5.8-km-long and 670-metre-wide wetland had a water sports complex which suffered damages in the 2013 cyclone, Mohapatra said, adding that the facility will be restored with better resources. Last year, the state government had sanctioned Rs 23.81 crore for infrastructure development at Gopalpur-on-sea, one of the famous beach resort towns of the state, about 15 km from here, Nayak said.

A water sports complex, sand art park and marine museum will be set up at Gopalpur as part of the project, he added.