Cyclone-ravaged Kuakata Eco Park not repaired in years

Bereft of its former beauty, Kuakata Eco Park no longer attracts visitors.

Super cyclones Sidr in 2007, Aila in 2009, and Mahasen in 2013, accompanied by tidal surges from the Bay, caused serious damage to the structures and trees of the park but no renovation work has been done due to lack of funds.

Patuakhali forest department set up the eco-park covering 3,984 acres of land in Gangamoti area, about three km to the east of Kuakata Zero Point at a cost of Tk 2.90 crore.

The forest department dug a one km long lake with arrangement of six pedal boats for use by tourists, built a wooden bridge across the water body, set concrete benches with umbrellas, made four km long earthen walkways and five picnic spots there, making it an attractive tourist spot.

Adequate electrification was arranged there.

A beautiful flower garden adorned the entrance and a tamarisk garden was created just outside the park to save it from tidal surges from the Bay.

Tourists from home and abroad and many picnic parties came to the picturesque park.

But aforesaid cyclones wreaked havoc on the park, causing serious damage to its walkways, wooden bridge, pedal boats, and concrete benches.

Over 1,000 tamarisk trees were uprooted by cyclones and tidal surges from the Bay. Uncared, the lake is now full of water-hyacinths.

The park no longer attracts tourists, said Ruman Imtiaj Tushar, former president of Kuakata Press Club.

Often drug addicts enter the park, several locals said.

Contacted, Mehir Kanti Do, divisional forest officer in Patuakhali, said they sent a Tk 15.69 crore Project Proposal (PP) titled 'Kuakata Eco-park Development Project' to the higher authorities in 2010 but it is yet to be approved.

"The PP includes construction of roads, picnic spots, bridge, watch towers, parking spot and public toilets, as well as beautification works, as part of rebuilding the eco-park to attract tourists," he said.