Karimnagar:The Sircilla boating point developed at the Mid Manair reservoir on outskirts of the Sircilla town is in a state of neglect. Except on the inauguration day, the boat has not been operated during the last three years.
It is said lack of road facility and Tourism department’s negligence are reasons why tourists are unable to reach the boating point, which had been started after spending huge amounts.
The KCR government had decided to attract tourists by developing various spots in the Mid Manair reservoir. As part of it, a boating point too had been developed in the backwaters of MMR on outskirts of the Sircilla town with the initiative of area MLA and then minister K.T. Rama Rao.
KTR, along with the then Tourism minister V. Srinivas Goud inaugurated the boating facility on August 18, 2023 in a hurry, just before assembly elections, even though the facility had not been fully developed. Lack of road facility to the boating point is the main drawback. During the rainy season, not even a two-wheeler can access the spot, forget four and three wheelers. The spot is located 3 km away from the main road.
There is no adequate parking space. Vehicles will not be able to turn if several of them arrive at the spot at one go.
Moreover, there are no washrooms or drinking water facilities for the convenience of tourists.
A key drawback is that water is not available at the boating point throughout the year. Water will be there for only for six months from July to December when the Mid Manair Reservoir is full.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, fisherman Masam Srinivas said lack of road facility is the main reason for tourists not visiting the spot. Besides laying a road, providing other facilities, such as washrooms and lighting, among others, could attract tourists, Srinivas said.
When contacted, Tourism department staff said after inauguration of the facility, they waited for tourists for three months. They stopped the boating activity altogether, as nobody turned up.
Tourism staff said they gave a representation to the then collector for laying a road, lighting arrangements, and other facilities. However, there had been no response from the officials.
Likewise, the proposal to develop an island over 40 acres in the middle of the Annapurna project near Ananthagiri has also not materialised.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
