Odisha Tourism has initiated an extensive assessment of rivers, reservoirs and waterfalls in the tribal districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada to identify locations suitable for adventure water sports, with the twin objectives of promoting sustainable tourism and creating employment opportunities for local youth.
Speaking to media persons during his visit to Koraput, Amitabh Maiti, Adventure Tourism Expert with the Odisha Tourism Department, said he has been entrusted with developing adventure tourism, particularly water-based activities, across the state. He is currently leading a reconnaissance survey of inland water bodies in collaboration with experts from the National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS), Goa.
Accompanying Maiti are NIWS experts Sanjay Singh and Jagdish, who are evaluating rivers, reservoirs and dams across Odisha for introducing non-mechanized adventure sports such as white-water rafting, kayaking and canoeing. The state-wide survey began on July 6 and is expected to conclude by the end of the month.
During the last two days, the expert team inspected nearly seven locations in Koraput and Malkangiri districts, including Pondi Ghat , Kolab Dam, Balimela Reservoir, Poteru river , Chitrakonda, Sabari river near Gupteswar, and Duduma Waterfall while had plans to explore possibilities of utilising the river between Kotia and Madkar on one side and Galigabdar waterfall & river flowing downstream between Pottangi & Naredivalasa in Kotia panchayat . According to Maiti, these sites possess significant potential for adventure tourism, particularly white-water sports, depending on river gradients and water flow conditions.
He noted that the district administrations, especially the Collectors of Koraput and Malkangiri, have shown keen interest in developing tourism infrastructure and supporting water-based recreational activities. Besides attracting tourists, the initiative aims to generate sustainable livelihoods by training local youth as certified lifeguards, rescue personnel and adventure sports operators.
Maiti stressed that safety would remain the cornerstone of every tourism initiative. Local youths will receive professional training in Life Saving Techniques (LST) and controlled-water lifeguard operations, with the National Institute of Water Sports expected to conduct on-site training programmes.
He observed that Koraput’s mountainous terrain, fast-flowing rivers and scenic waterfalls provide favourable conditions for white-water adventure sports. If scientifically developed with proper safety standards and environmental safeguards, the region has the potential to emerge as one of Odisha’s premier inland adventure tourism destinations while creating new avenues of employment for tribal communities.
