CROWD OF TOURISTS AT KARAMCHAT DAM, TERROR OF HOOLIGANS AND HEAPS OF GARBAGE, ADMINISTRATION SILENT

CROWD OF TOURISTS AT KARAMCHAT DAM, TERROR OF HOOLIGANS AND HEAPS OF GARBAGE, ADMINISTRATION SILENT

21-JULY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA---------------------------Karamchat Dam, also known as Durgavati Reservoir, situated on the beautiful hills of the district, was bustling with thousands of tourists on Sunday.

However, this picturesque tourist spot is losing its identity due to administrative apathy and terror of hooligans. The safety of the tourists, especially families, coming here is at the mercy of God, while the increasing filth in the reservoir is posing a threat to its existence. The terror of hooligan bikers was seen on the bridge connecting Kaimur and Rohtas. Due to riding bikes at high speed and doing dangerous stunts, the tourists coming here are always afraid of some untoward incident. Local people say that this is an everyday problem, but the administration is proving unsuccessful in controlling it. This situation becomes even more worrying when recently an incident of harassment of a female and male CO by miscreants came to light in the Kaimur hills under Rohtas district, after which three people were also arrested. Despite these incidents, no concrete administrative system is seen here for the safety of tourists. No proper arrangements have been made by the administration for the thousands of tourists visiting Karamchat Dam. There are neither strong security arrangements here nor any alternative arrangement for cleanliness. The result is that tourists are throwing plastic bottles, garbage and leftover food items in the reservoir. Due to this, the clean water of Durgawati reservoir is continuously getting polluted. This reservoir is not only a major tourist destination but also an important source of irrigation for thousands of farmers. Local people and environment lovers have raised questions on the working style of the Forest Department. They say that it is the responsibility of the Forest Department to maintain this tourist spot and keep it pollution free, but the department is not paying any attention to this. People have demanded that immediate action be taken against hooligans and those who pollute the reservoir. It is ironic that on one hand the government is approving schemes worth crores of rupees to develop this area as a major eco-tourism and adventure hub, on the other hand the lack of existing infrastructure and administrative negligence can spoil these plans. Therefore, the forest department and the administration should pay attention to this.