Ramsagar renovated sans boating facility

SAMBALPUR: The Ramsagar Boating Club wears a new look after renovation. Equipped with a musical fountain, decorative lights, pathways and landscaping, it has turned a major attraction of the City. But, much to the chagrin of the locals, the club has been stripped of the facility for which it was well known - paddle boats.The renovation work of the boating club, under Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC), was carried out under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) at an estimated cost of `1.38 crore.

The work was started in October last year and completed about five months before its deadline. The boating club has been renamed as Ramsagar Park and Musical Fountain. However, the boating facility is missing in the recreation centre and the SMC authorities have no plan to resume it in  recent future.  
Under the renovation work, desiltation of the water body, strengthening of embankment, construction of pathways around the tank and landscaping were undertaken.

This apart, decorative lights and playing equipment for children have also been installed. Apart from the renovation and beautification work, a musical fountain has been installed at an estimated cost of `80 lakh. The installation of the musical fountain is an added attraction of the recreation centre.Earlier, the neglected Ramsagar tank spread over about 10 acres was renovated and developed into a boating club by the civic body and dedicated to the public in 2003.

About 15 paddle boats were deployed to provide boating facilities to the visitors. Though the SMC had planned to procure two speed boats instead of paddle boats, the decision was rolled back after completion of the renovation work. Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Bimalendu Rai said water of the tank was drained out for installation of the musical fountain. At present, there is dearth of water in the tank and even they are facing problem for operation of the musical fountain, he said.