Teething Troubles For Beach Shack Plan In Gopalpur; Will It Go The Puri Way?

Berhampur: After Puri, the Odisha government’s beach shack plan at Gopalpur-on-sea has run into rough weather with local fishermen and several organisations opposing the move.

“Odisha Tourism has selected 2400 square-metre land behind Pantha Nivas to set up five shacks,” said Tourist Officer Ratikanta Patnaik.

Some departmental officers, including Revenue staff, visited the site recently.

However, Gopalpur Fishermen Association S Daneya President, social worker Panchu Behera and some organisations have submitted a memorandum protesting against the shack plan at Gopalpur to the Tourist Officer.

The organisations, which are opposing the decision, include Manav Adhikar Surakshya Manch, Retired Teachers Association, Om Laughing Club, Jana Jagarana Mancha, Akhil Bharat Krantikari Krushak Sabha, among others.

THE PLAN

Notably, the government had proposed five shacks on the Puri-Konark marine drive in Puri district and as many in Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district. Three shacks on the Talsari-Udaipur beachfront in Balasore district and another three on Paradip sea beach in Jagatsinghpur district, besides two shacks each on Chandipur beach in Balasore district and Pati Sonapur in Ganjam district.

Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has also floated a tender for the operation of the ‘Goa-like’ beach shacks.

For tourism promotion, liquor will be served in these beach shacks under the State Excise Policy-2021.

“Serving liquor to boost tourism will degrade the character and culture of the society and destroys the life and livelihood of people,” they argued.

NO TO BEACH SHACKS

Abani Gaya Convenor Manav Adhikar Surakshya Manch threatened to intensify the agitation by creating awareness among the people of Ganjam district.

Following opposition from several quarters, including Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, the government scrapped the plan for introducing Goa-like beach shacks at Puri beaches on July 31.

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

BLUE FLAG TAG

Meanwhile, preliminary construction work has already been started at Haripur Beach near Gopalpur to achieve the Blue Flag tag. It is pertinent to mention here that a beach needs to comply with at least 33 pre-requisites to achieve the Blue Flag tag authorised by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Denmark, which include availability of toilets, changing rooms, first aid centres, security for senior citizens, CCTV surveillance, 24×7 security arrangements, parking lots, plastic-free locality and proper waste management system.

The Chandrabhaga beach at Konark was Asia’s first beach to get the Blue Flag Accreditation in June 2018. Later, the Golden Beach of Puri was also accorded the coveted tag. “We hope to achieve the tag for Gopalpur soon,” said the Tourist Officer.