Berhampur: With the onset of winter, the tourism season has started and the Ganjam District administration has initiated efforts to attract more and more people to its various tourist attractions that are rich in bio-diversity such as hill stations, beaches, waterfalls, hot springs and jungle safari. For the second year in a row, the state government is organizing the famous Eco-retreat at Sunapur beach in Ganjam district. The magnificent facilities at the Eco-retreats will provide nature lovers the opportunity to indulge themselves in enjoying the beauty of the sea and the green forests, staying overnight in the beautiful well organized camps surrounded by the natural environment.
The Eco-retreat, which will run for three months, will open to tourists from today. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will launch it through video conferencing. Preparations for this have been completed. The beautiful Sunapur beach calling the nature lovers to come and explore the exquisiteness of the blue sea. All needed facilities such as road works, electrification, drinking water, sanitation works have been completed in the beach area. For the convenience of tourists, beautiful lighting is being done from Biju Setu to the beach.
Another significance for today is that the Sunapur Beach is going to be the second beach in Odisha after Puri to get the Blue Flag Beach tag today. All the necessary works on the Blue Flag beach have been completed. Steps have been taken to fulfill 33 criteria including environment-friendly infrastructure, better services and security for tourists at the Sunapur Beach.
Gopalpur-on-Sea, which is an International Beach in Ganjam district, is bustling with activity as large number of tourists are arriving there. Just on the opposite of the Gopalpur Beach is the Sunapur Beach – a tranquil, serene far away from the hustle and bustle. It is one of the ten proposed Blue Flag Beaches in Odisha and is situated in the Chikiti Block of Ganjam District. Eco-friendly toilets, solar lighting system, safe swimming area, solid waste management project, parking facility, reception gate, office room, first aid, public information board, equipment for beach sanitation and hygiene, safety fence, watch tower, audio system have been placed at the beach. Thirty three facilities such as CCTV surveillance, facilities for the disabled, greenery, water management project, affordable and clean drinking water facilities for travelers, kindergarten, electricity facilities have also been implemented.
While Gopalpur has a permanent eco-retreat building, these temporary eco-retreat tents are expected to attract tourists. The Gopalpur Beach Festival, to be held in the end of the month, will attract large number of local and foreign tourists to Ganjam district.