10 cottages being built on Deomali for nature lovers

Koraput: The forest department is constructing 10 cottages on the Deomali hilltop to provide night stay facilities to tourists, in Koraput district’s Pottangi. Deomali is the highest peak in Odisha standing at 1,672 metres above the sea level in the eastern ghats.
Official sources said cottages are being built using all-weather cement fibre boards. “It will undoubtedly be a major tourist attraction,” said Uma Mahesh, assistant conservator of forests, Koraput. “Over 50 per cent of the work is over. Electrification and water supply to the hilltop have been ensured to cater to the needs of the visitors,” he added.
Besides the cottages, the project includes a spacious dining hall and two dormitories. The forest department is also focusing on the landscape of the area and has planted tropical pine trees. Around 1,000 tropical pine saplings were brought from Assam for the purpose.
Owing to bauxite deposits on the hilltop, soil dig up machines were used to make pits for planting of the saplings and foreign soil was used to ensure growth of the plants, said Mahesh.
To reach Deomali, one needs to take the road from NH-26 at Kunduli. As the journey progresses, the topography gradually changes and, after a drive of approximately 20 km travellers arrive in Deomali. “With its scenic beauty, cool climate and upcoming accommodation facilities, Deomali is poised to become a sought-after tourist destination,” said Talina Pradhani, district tourist officer, Koraput.
Also, Deomali has been included under the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan scheme for development of infrastructure that will further boost the inflow of tourists, she added.
The present project is in addition to the Rs 16 crore already sanctioned by the state tourism department for integrated development of the hill, which includes the construction of a new entrance gate, parking space, widening and illumination of road leading to the hilltop, drinking water facilities, power supply, bio-toilets, refurbishment of watch towers, camping zones, picnic sheds, solid waste management, vending kiosks, food courts and site fencing among others.
Meanwhile, the local tribals are upbeat at the developments as increase in arrival of tourists to Deomali will directly strengthen their economy.
“We are happy that the government has undertaken a massive work to promote Deomali as a prime tourist destination. Undoubtedly, it will go a long way in providing the much required direct and indirect employment to the local tribal communities,” said Trinath Pangi, a Kotia resident.