Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dedicated the renovated memorial of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das at his birthplace Suando in Odisha’s Puri district on Thursday. He also unveiled the newly installed 15-ft statue of Gopbandhu and the museum.
The CM flew in a chopper from Bhubaneswar airport at 10.50 am and landed on a temporary helipad constructed at Suando at 11 am. After a visit to the Shiva temple, he travelled to the birthplace of Utkalmani. He then took a battery car to the inauguration area.
According to sources, his ancestral house has been renovated and a memorial museum set up to showcase his life and times through many objects that were used by him, his books and rare photographs. Several public amenities have also been developed in the village to attract tourists. A Shiva temple, a park, a children’s playground, pond, canteen, and a shopping complex at Bhargavi river bank have been developed while the village has been beautified. The plan is spread over 7 acres.
A reception centre and an information centre have also been set up on the main road to the village.
In 2021, the government earmarked Rs 25.25 crore for turning Suando into a heritage village. In addition to developing Suando village, there are also plans to introduce water sports on the Bhargavi flowing through the village to attract tourists. Some of the suggested activities include water skiing, kite surfing, kayaking, water scooter rides, boating and canoeing, among other things.
