INTACH to develop village in Ganjam district
BERHAMPUR: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is going to develop Padmanabhpur village of Ganjam district as a craftsmen’s village and rural tourism resort.
A team of INTACH visited Padmanabhpur recently to make initial planning for the project. The Central government has sanctioned Rs. 76 lakh from this project under the rural tourism promotion scheme, which is to be utilised through the INTACH. The INTACH has past experience of developing similar project in Orissa. Raghurajpur, the small village near Puri, famous for its master ‘Pattachitra’ artists and ‘Gotipua’ dance troupes has now become a major rural tourist destination of the State due to the efforts of INTACH to develop it as a crafts village.
New layout
Padmanabhpur village, 40 km from here in Digapahandi block of Ganjam district, is famous for its weavers and folk dancers. Animal dance troupes of this village, who use masks to imitate movements of animals ranging from tigers to bulls, are quite well-known.
Around 200 weaver families live in this village, who are adept in weaving in both silk and cotton medium. Development of this village as a tourist destination would improve the economic condition of these artisans who are languishing in poverty.
Architects of INTACH would make a new layout for the village and reconstruct the houses of artisans in a uniform pattern. Basic amenities like restaurants, communication centers etc needed for tourists would be added up at the village. Road communication to this village is also being improved.
A committee has been formed under chairmanship of the Ganjam district Collector to oversee the progress of the project undertaken by INTACH at Padmanabhpur.
