Allegations of public fund wastage surfaced in Jajpur after two major heritage and tourism infrastructure projects built at a combined cost of nearly Rs 18 crore remain unused years after their completion. 

Residents raised concerns over the continued closure of the facilities, which were developed to preserve the district’s rich cultural heritage and promote tourism.

Museum Remains Locked Despite Completion

Located on the banks of the Baitarani River near the Barahanath Temple in Jajpur town, the Museum-cum-Tourism Office and the Interpretation Centre reportedly remain non-functional despite substantial public investment.

The museum, constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore, was intended to preserve and showcase the district’s ancient Buddhist, Jain and Hindu artefacts. Although construction was completed in 2021, the facility remained locked and inaccessible to the public.

Residents allege that the prolonged closure defeated the very purpose for which the museum was established. Heritage objects and artefacts intended for preservation were reportedly not properly utilised, while the facility itself came to be viewed as an abandoned structure.

Culture expert Abhimanyu Mishra expressed concern over the situation.

“Even though it was created a long time ago, it has not been coming into use for people. It is utterly saddening. Jajpur’s tirth sites were destroyed to build these, but the government is not doing anything to restore it,” he said.

Interpretation Centre Also Unused

Questions were also raised over the Interpretation Complex, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 8.5 crore.

The facility houses 23 modern rooms, including an e-library, reading hall, multimedia learning room, children’s zone, processing and information collection room, and cottages. However, despite construction being completed in 2023, the complex has remained locked.

Local residents claim students continue to face difficulties due to the lack of a permanent library despite the availability of infrastructure within the complex.

Jajpur Municipality Vice-Chairperson Santosh Mallick said, “It was built a considerable time ago, but it is still not in use. It is not being maintained either. Despite us telling them multiple times to transfer our museum here, the administration is not paying any heed to it.”

Administration Assures Early Action

Responding to the concerns, Jajpur Collector Ambar Kumar Kar said efforts were underway to make both facilities operational.

“When this was being planned, an irrigation channel passed through the middle of it. We are making plans to synchronise it so that it can be implemented in an acceptable manner. We have sent a project plan to the Secretary of the Tourism Department and it will soon be resolved and completed by March,” he said.

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The continued closure of the two projects fuelled debate over the utilisation of public funds, particularly as significant expenditure was incurred by the State Tourism Department to preserve heritage and strengthen tourism infrastructure in the district.