Ponda taluka, popularly known as temple town, attracts thousands of tourists but these visitors face hardship due to lack of facilities, restaurants, accommodation, parking, toilets, etc, at Kavlem, a tourist spot.
Many tourists flock to the Shantadurga Temple in Kavlem but find basic facilities woefully inadequate in the area, including shortage of sufficient toilet facilities for which women are much inconvenienced. Besides, traffic congestion at Kavlem Shantadurga Temple, which is tourist spot, is a major problem confronting villagers and tourists.
The abandoned tourist accommodation and restaurant along with Sulab Shouchalaya and toilets of Tourism Department are only gathering dust at Kavlem. These two structures, opposite the temple, are only occupying prime space for more than 15 years, without providing services, which could otherwise provide basic facilities. However, these structures should either be renovated or demolished, sources said.
The Government is neither using the building not clearing the old structure which is occupying around 400 metres of land. The said land could be useful for parking of around 50 buses if the dilapidated project is cleared from the area, as there is shortage of space for parking leading to traffic chaos on Kavlem road.
The Tourism Department had constructed a tourist complex at Kavlem and Mangueshi two decades ago at both the tourist places but after running for few years these projects have apparently been abandoned almost for more than 15 years by the Department. These were reportedly constructed to generate revenue and were also were run successfully for few years and brought in revenue to the Treasury. However, negligence by Tourism Department later, failed to provide facilities to tourists as there was no proper management and maintenance. As a result both these projects at Kavlem and Mangueshi are now only gathering dust and occupying prime land in Ponda.
Kavlem locals have been demanding facilities for tourists, especially toilets which are in a dilapidated state. Thousands of tourists visiting these famous places face inconvenience due to insufficient toilet facilities.
According to Kavlem locals in absence of toilet facilities the tourists, especially ladies, face major problem and are forced to urinate in the open. Sources say if the Tourism Department cannot manage to run the project, it should be handed over to local panchayat so that it can generate some revenue. Besides this, the parking problem at Kavlem can be solved if the old tourist complex building is demolished and space is provided for parking as this will help smooth flow of traffic, especially during wedding ceremonies.
Similarly Manguesh Temple is another famous temple visited by tourists and the locals. However, the tourist complex constructed two decades ago become a White Elephant.
Kavlem sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar said visitors face lot of problems due to lack of infrastructure.
“We have demanded several times with Tourism Department to handover their abandoned project to the panchayat so that we can provide necessary facilities to tourists but our requests have fallen on deaf ears,” said the sarpanch.
Tourism Department project in 1996 comprised a restaurant, dormitories and toilets. But all these have been abandoned. The dormitories and were used for only three years but later due to the negligence of the Tourist Department the buildings are in a dilapidated condition. Tourist restaurant is closed for past many years while dormitories which were started here in 1996 were in use for only 3 years since than it is in without use and dilapidated condition.
Kavlem sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar also demanded one traffic police to control the traffic congestion. Lack of NOC from the land owners led to delay in construction of toilets near the tourist spot.
Kavlekar said the panchayat is also planning to provide toilet facility at Kavlem based on demand of Gram sabha resolution.
