Hope Island cries for basic amenities

Hope Island cries for basic amenities
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Highlights

The tourists visiting the Hope Island expressed their unhappiness over the pathetic conditions there. Though Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the Hope Island in Kakinada will be developed as a biggest tourist spot with all facilities nothing has been materialised so far as it falls under the purview of wildlife wing of Forest Department.

Kakinada: The tourists visiting the Hope Island expressed their unhappiness over the pathetic conditions there. Though Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the Hope Island in Kakinada will be developed as a biggest tourist spot with all facilities nothing has been materialised so far as it falls under the purview of wildlife wing of Forest Department.

A tourist, who visited the island, says the government failed totally in providing minimum basic facilities such as drinking water, shelter, toilets and a good path to walk Murali Krishna, a tourist, who visited the Hope Island, slammed the government for not providing minimum basic facilities such as drinking water, shelter, toilets and a good path to walk. He said only three sheds were constructed with palm trees welcoming the tourists without any sitting arrangement.

Moreover, the tourists particularly women are facing problems at the time of boarding and alighting from jetty. The foul smell emanating from fishing harbour is annoying tourists and the road leads towards jetty from Haritha Resorts are also in miserable condition.

Though Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (APSTDC) took a decision to develop Hope Island as a tourist hub in the state, the old boat operated by it is not in good condition.

Speaking to The Hans India, APSTDC Executive Engineer Srinivas said the Corporation has taken up Rs 80 lakh construction works including building three shelters and repairs to old jetty along with laying of walking path.

He said that the APSTDC has proposed works worth Rs 15 crore but the wildlife wing can only take up these as per rules in the middle of island.

APSTDC Divisional Manager Prakash said the Corporation is making efforts to procure a new boat replacing the old one. Plans are afoot to shift the existing jetty from the fishing harbour in due course. Divisional Forest Officer (wildlife wing) K Prabhakar Rao said the Hope Island comes under wildlife sanctuary and wildlife wing can only take up the works.

“But the department is giving importance for priority works on the island and works related to tourism will be taken up as per the directions of government,” he added.

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