Bhubaneswar: Tourists visiting Bhitarkanika National Park will soon travel in battery-powered boats, as the administration moves to phase out diesel and petrol-powered boats to protect the park’s environment and biodiversity.
Officials said the decision was taken after concerns that engine noise and fuel emissions from mechanical boats were disturbing wildlife and birds in the waterways. “Tourists prefer to visit Bhitarkanika by waterways rather than by land. Since mechanical boats affect the waterways and surrounding environment, the government has now decided to operate battery-powered boats,” an official said.
A meeting in this regard was held with boat owners at Dangmal. In the first phase, 4 to 5 battery-powered boats are planned to be introduced in Bhitarkanika. Kendrapara District Collector informed that boat owners will receive 50 percent government assistance to purchase the new boats.
However, boat owners have raised objections to the move. They said the average cost of a battery-powered boat is around Rs 1 crore, making it difficult to afford even with subsidy. Owners also flagged concerns over insufficient charging points and the safety of battery boats during storms.
Rajnagar MLA welcomed the initiative, calling it an environment-friendly step. He said the government should ensure boat owners do not face financial and practical problems during implementation of the new system.
Forest officials said the shift to battery-powered boats aims to make tourism in Bhitarkanika more attractive while minimizing disturbance to wildlife and preserving the fragile ecosystem of the national park.
The administration will now work on setting up charging infrastructure and addressing the concerns raised by boat operators before full-scale rollout.
