Sambalpur: Construction of Budharaja Watch Tower, Locked and Forgotten by Enforcement Deptt.

Sambalpur: Enforcement Department is doing destruction in the name of Sambalpur development. One job has been abandoned for 7 years. No construction done. The duration of the work was 18 months. Even now, more than 8 months have passed, but the work is still in progress. Budharaja Watch Tower has fallen into such a pitiable condition and the gate in front of Tower has been locked and forgotten. Seeing the lock hanging outside, everyone is going back.

In 2016, an amount of Rs 1 crore was approved by the state tourism department for the beautification of Budharaja hills. The estimated time to complete this work was 18 months. Its construction was undertaken by Sambalpur Enforcement Department-1. It has taken more than 80 months but not yet handed over. The former department had planned for the handover by the end of October 2021.

2 more years have passed since then. But the work never started. People has blamed the administration for the incident of the watch tower being locked. Not being able to produce a work even after such a long time is said to be the inefficiency of the former department. Hundreds of college students and tourists come here daily. Taking a selfie and seeing the city from the top of the Tower is very attractive. But the administration is not paying attention to it. Tourists are turning away due to loss of revenue.

On the other hand, the Department of Tourism has expressed concern over the huge delay in the construction of Budharaja Watch Tower. The tourism department has complained that it has been going on for years, when it will be completed and when it will be handed over. The departmental officer said, no matter how much we told them, they are not working. The money has gone from our department but they are not doing it. What will the tourism department do if they do not complete the work on time? However, a team will go to review it within two to three days.