Rairakhol/Sambalpur, May 10: Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the ‘Bhima Mandali Eco Heritage Site’ under Naktideul block of Sambalpur district and said the project would bring the glorious history of Bhima Mandali into public focus while strengthening tourism in the region.

Pradhan said Bhima Mandali was not merely a tourist destination, but a vivid testimony to Odisha’s glorious history and ancient civilisation.

According to archaeologists, the rock art engraved on the cave walls of Bhima Mandali is more than 10,000 years old. Several ancient tools from the Stone Age period have also been discovered at the site, he said.

The Union Minister stated that efforts were underway to secure formal recognition for the site from the Archaeological Survey of India and place the rare heritage destination on the international tourism map.

Pradhan said Bhima Mandali had always remained unique because of its historical significance, natural beauty and mythological association. In this context, he said the “double-engine government” had approved more than Rs 8.30 crore for the development of the site and the work formally commenced on Sunday.

Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida for approving funds for the project.

Pradhan informed that infrastructure, including entry roads, bridges, viewpoints, solar power systems, tourist amenities and rest houses would soon be constructed at the site. He said the project would create several new opportunities for the social and economic upliftment of local residents.

The Union Minister further said that through the Odisha government’s Homestay policy, local villagers would be made economically self-reliant while tourists would get an opportunity to experience Odisha’s traditional rural lifestyle.

“In the coming days, Bhima Mandali will significantly contribute towards enriching the cultural economy of this region,” he said.

Pradhan also recalled that during his visit to Bhima Mandali on February 25, 2025, he had promised development of the site. He informed that he had also written to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, requesting that Debrigarh-Bhima Mandali-Hirakud be declared as a tourism circuit in the next phase.

The Union Minister said the initiative would help preserve the ancient rock art heritage of Bhima Mandali while promoting the site as a major eco-heritage tourism destination.