Road trip to document waterfalls of Odisha to be flagged off today

Bhubaneswar: A road trip to explore and documents the state’s waterfalls will be flagged off from Kalinga Stadium here on Friday by Sports and Youth Services Minister Chandra Sarathi Behera.

The initiative by four wildlife enthusiasts is being supported by the Department Of Tourism.

According to a press release, leading naturalists, wildlife conservationists and photographers will participate in the road trip, covering 2500 km in 15 days. The objective of the expedition is to document the pristine natural landscapes in which these waterfalls are located and spread a message against littering around them. The team will also identify and explore the feasibility of introducing responsible ecotourism at these places, which will help put Odisha on global map.

The expedition will cover 22 districts and 28 waterfalls, most of which are located in protected areas and other rich and bio-diverse landscapes that are getting affected by negative impacts of unplanned and unregulated tourism.

The waterfalls include Duduma, Barehipani, Joranda, Bhimkund, Devkund, Sanghagra, Badaghagra, Khandadhar (Keonjhar), Khandadhar (Sundargarh), Pradhanpat, Nrusinghanath, Handibhanga, Gundichaghai, Pulrijharan, Rabandhara, Uski and Katramal.

A database of factual and audio-visuals will be created to educate the public, aid policymakers and promote Odisha’s rich natural heritage globally. The team is also planning to come up with a website in association with Odisha Tourism to ensure public access to the documentation and information on waterfalls of Odisha, the press release added.