No toilet facilities at Betla park despite high footfall

DALTONGANJ: Visitors coming to Betla National Park, which is part of Palamu Tiger Reserve, have requested that the park’s authorities to focus on installing workable toilets and proper seating arrangements on a priority basis.

At a time when both the state and Union government are swearing by Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to end open defecation, the state forest department should be an example, a group of tourists said. “The difficulty is more for ladies as they do not have any functional toilets here,” Saheli Banerjee, who was part of a small tourists group at Betla from Ranchi, said. “It may not be a problem for tourists who have booked hotels for overnight stays. But there are many tourists who come and go in the morning like us. The authorities should consider setting up a few well maintained toilets,” she added, pointing towards a lone toilet (male/female each) which remained under lock and key.

Other tourists too complained of similar problems adding further that authorities should also consider making proper seating arrangements and putting up dustbins across the park. “Having small benches made of wood logs or otherwise can easily be done with little investment. Betla gets visitors round the year, mostly local crowd but there is no place to sit. You either have to sit on the ground or at pavements on roadside,” Saket Singh, a Daltonganj-based businessman who came with his family on a day-long tour, said.

Many tourist guides and the staff employed by forest department here said in the past a few plans were made to install these facilities but they were unaware why they never fructified. On why the lone toilet remained closed, a staff, under the condition of anonymity said, it was due to lack of maintenance.

PTR director Mohan Lal conceded the problem of toilets and promised an early solution. “When I visited the park yesterday, even I discovered this problem. Lack of toilets is a real concern here. We will work out something soon to address it.” He added, “As far as seating problems are concerned, next to Betla entrance, near the Nature Interpretation Centre, the area is being developed where tourists can sit and relax. By this year end, I think, it will be ready.”

The park has an annual footfall of around 60,000 to 70,000 visitors with the winter season seeing the biggest crowd. It is closed for three months during the monsoon.