Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and Lawmaker Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo today expressed deep concern over the safety of tourists visiting different places in the State.
Shri Singh Deo has raised a question in this regard in the Assembly today. He wanted to know about the safety and security measures implemented to ensure a safe experience for tourists.
“What measures are being taken to train local police and staff in tourist-friendly practices, and is there a feedback mechanism for tourists to report issues?,” he asked the State Government.
In her written reply, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the Tourism Department has sanctioned Rs 23.34 crore in the financial year 2024-25 for safety, security & sanitation of 31 destinations across Odisha.
The Home Department has created 72 Tourist Police personnel posts to operationalise eight Tourist Police Cells at eight Police Stations in the State viz. Sea Beach Police Station (Puri), Brahmagiri Police Station (Satapada), Konark Police Station (Chandrabhaga) in Puri Police District, Nandankanan Police Station (Nandankanan), Dhauli Police Station ( Dhauli), and Shree Lingaraj Police Station (Shree Lingaraj Temple) in urban police district, Bhubaneswar.
Similarly, police stations have also been opened at Gopalpur Police Station (Gopalpur) in Berhampur Police District, Chandipur Police Station (Chandipur) in Balasore Police District, she said.
The police personnel engaged at eight Tourist Police Cells have undertaken the orientation training programme organized by the Tourism Department through Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Bhubaneswar, Parida said.
Besides, the Department is also taking steps to impart orientation training programmes for the tourist police personnel as and when required, she added.
The Deputy CM further informed that the Department of Tourism has its own social media handle like “X”, Facebook page, instagram, DoT official website from where the feedback is received for further improvement.
The senior BJD Lawmaker also wanted to know about the steps taken by the State government to curb alcohol-related crimes, such as domestic violence and road accidents.
Replying to the query, Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said regular intensive Excise raids are being conducted throughout the State with the help of Police to curb illicit distillation and unauthorised sale of liquor & other intoxicants.
Seizure of illicit liquor and narcotic drugs are being done regularly and the persons involved are being arrested and forwarded to the court, he said.
Excise raids are also being conducted with a Multi Disciplinary Special Squad consisting of Excise, Police, Forest & Revenue Personnel, Harichandan said.
Further, he informed, awareness campaigns are being organized on 26th June every year on the eve of “International Day against Drugs abuse and illicit trafficking” by involving Educational institutions, NGOS, WSHG & public through IEC (Information Education & Communication) to sensitize the people against ill effect of liquor and narcotic drugs and inculcating a sense of responsibility among consumers.
However, the Minister said the data on alcohol related criminal incidents in Odisha, such as domestic violence & road accidents are not available with his department.