Samikhsya Bureau
It is time that the post budget riders given by the Odisha chief minister on the union budget be made louder. In fact, the chief minister’s budget reaction on heritage site were cushioned on a note of regret, instead of being a contesting one .
With immense tourism potential and heritage sites in the state, it has failed yet again this time to figure in the Centre’s choice of heritage sites.
Which clearly speaks about a mind-set about down-playing an issue not on merit but on grounds of political exigencies and that way, Odisha, undisputedly, suffers from an ordinariness of a next-door neighbour, always willing to submit to the subjugating tactics of the centre and failed when it is a question about being assertive .
Centre can well mull to subvert the sensitive ecological characters of the Chilika Lagoon, one of the wetlands declared a Ramsar Site of world importance, for a water aerodrome activity, but has to struggle for a tag of heritage.
Chilika lake is one among 27 wetland sites of international importance, and Odisha has many more sites of heritage importance, failing consecutively to impress upon the mandarins at the centre.
Bhitarkanika hardly requires any introduction as a National Park and so does the Gahirmatha as a marine sanctuary of world importance for the rookeries of the Olive Ridley sea turtles.
The areas are fathomless and so also their varied forms, the diversities, those roll out before us all.
The golden triangle comprised of Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar , a combo that showcases exuberance of a tremendous blend of nature and cultural flavour, remains mired by an ordinariness again.
