No Goa-Like ‘Beach Shacks’ In Puri; Odisha Govt Withdraws Plan

Bhubaneswar: Amid mounting protests, the Odisha government on Friday shelved Goa-like ‘beach shacks’ plan on Puri-Konark marine drive.

“The decision was taken yesterday following a meeting with the Tourism Department and the government” informed Puri Collector Samarth Verma.

Since Puri is being developed as a heritage city, anything that will have a negative impact on its spiritual significance will not be allowed, he added.

Notable, the government had proposed beach shacks at six beaches in the state, including a few in Puri, to woo tourists. The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) had also floated a tender for the operation of the same.

The proposal, however, ran into teething troubles with several social outfits and the Shankaracharya, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, demanding that it be scrapped in Puri. They argued that the plan to boost tourism by serving liquor to tourists at the proposed beach shacks would spoil the spiritual significance of Puri and hurt the religious sentiments of people.

Also Read: Beach Shacks In Puri Not Acceptable, Says Shankaracharya

On Thursday, representatives of 25 socio-cultural organisations of Puri submitted a memorandum to Collector Samarth Verma, opposing the beach shack concept at Puri. They, however, had no issues with it being implemented at other beaches in the state.

THE PLAN

Five shacks on the Puri-Konark marine drive in Puri district and five others in Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district.

Three shacks on the Talsari-Udaipur beachfront in Balasore district and as many on Paradip sea beach in Jagatsinghpur district.

At two shacks each on Chandipur beach in Balasore district and Pati Sonapur in Ganjam district.

“The beach shacks will have a refreshing ambience along with delectable food, chilled alcohol, and most importantly, the backdrop of white sands and gushing waves,” the then tourism secretary Vishal Dev had said.

Also Read: Beach Shacks To Come Up At 6 Locations In Odisha