Bhubaneswar: BJP leader and Bhubaneswar MP, Aparajita Sarangi has requested Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure the conservation and development of Dhauli Shanti Stupa.
In a letter, Sarangi informed that she had visited Dhauli Stupa and the surrounding area on November 15 on the invitation Of Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha. She had also interacted with Sangha members and local residents.
She said that the Tourism Ministry had sanctioned Rs 5 crore under the ‘Destination Development Plan’ for the development of Dhauli. Later, a comprehensive development plan was prepared by architectural firm Karan Grover and Associates. Sadly, the fund has been gathering dust since 2005, the MP claimed.
Alleging that a large portion of the Central fund has been misappropriated and another part diverted for other activities, Sarangi wrote that the Tourism Ministry had reservations about such diversion following which the state government made additional provision under the State plan.
“If you find time to visit Dhauli today, you will be saddened to see that additional funds from the Central government funds as well as the State Plan have not been utilized gainfully and Dhauli today has no sign of any worthwhile development,” she added.
Sarangi also said that there have been no arrangements of parking, proper rehabilitation of souvenir shops, operation of battery-operated buses to ferry tourists, development of pathway from the foothold of the Stupa with Buddhist motifs and symbols at frequent intervals, as envisaged in the plan developed by the architect firm Karan Grover & Associates.
Stating that the dome of the Stupa has developed visible cracks and is crying for immediate attention, she urged the Chief Minister to issue instruction for a thorough investigation into the siphoning of funds and implementation of the Comprehensive Development Plan.
Pointing out that the toll is being collected from the tourist vehicles going to Dhauli Sarangi said more than Rs 1 crore is lying unutilised in the account of Dhauli Development Committee which is chaired by the district collector. “This amount should be utilized for extending partial support to Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha and also for maintenance and upkeep of the Stupa and its surroundings,” she said.
