Jeypore: The administration has yet to receive a full account of waterfalls located within the forest areas under the Forest Department. Previously, efforts were initiated by the Jeypore Forest Division to designate five waterfalls in the Jeypore and Boipariguda forest regions as tourist destinations. A proposal was submitted to the District Collector by the Forest Division, which included waterfalls from Maliguda, Patraput, and Bindhaniguda in Jeypore block. The Rani Park and Kiringuda waterfalls from Boipariguda were also included in the beautification plan proposed by the Jeypore Forest Division Officer.
To develop and enhance these five waterfalls, estimated budgets were submitted to the district administration. These included:
Rs. 2.56 crore for Raniguda waterfall (Boipariguda block)
Rs. 2.56 crore for Kiringuda waterfall
Rs. 2.56 crore for Bindhaniguda waterfall (Jeypore block)
Rs. 1.25 crore for Patraput waterfall
Rs. 1.22 crore for Maliguda waterfall
The plan aimed to attract tourists by offering facilities like drinking water, rest sheds, wide roads, changing rooms, toilets, lighting, and picnic spots at all five sites.
Despite the proposal being submitted in February 2024, over a year has passed with no visible progress. It is reported that development activities can only begin after approval from the district administration and the final decision of the Tourism Department. However, the proposal seems to have stalled at Sheetal Bhandar, with no clear response or action from the Tourism Department.
There are discussions suggesting that the project may not have received approval due to the lack of accurate records of the number of waterfalls and streams in the reserved and proposed reserved forest areas of Koraput district. Even the Forest Department officials have admitted that they do not have an exact count of waterfalls under the jurisdiction of the Jeypore Forest Division.
Environmentalists have questioned why an assessment has not been made of the perennial waterfalls, which are key to developing the tourism sector. They believe that, with the cooperation of the district administration, the development of these scenic spots nestled within the green forests of Koraput could position the region as a leading tourism destination in the state.
No official response has been received from the Tourism Department so far.