keonjhar as the government gears up to celebrate world tourism day it is yet to take steps to develop tourist in mineralrich keonjharthe district boasts of many natural waterfalls and a lush green cover that attracts tourists throughout the year sanghagara badaghagra gundichaghagi khandadhar murga handibhanga bhimkund are some of the most popular waterfalls hereif the official figures of the last three years are any indication the tourist flow to the district is quite high but the government is yet to develop facilities for sustaining tourism the rise in tourist inflow can be attributed to lowlevel of pollution following closure of several mines and consequent decongestion of traffic though the road conditions have improved most tourist spots do not have basic facilities like food and proper drinking waterofficial reports put the number of visitors to the district at 2068090 in 2015 1870877 in 2014 and 1722393 in 2013 more than 58 lakh tourists visited maa tarini temple in ghatagaon in 2015 followed by 256 lakh visitors to sanghagara waterfall 162 lakh to mythologically significant sitabinjrampant mining activities have had an adverse affect on tourism in keonjhar district neither the government nor the mining companies could take steps for the development of tourist spots fearing that they may pose a threat to mining activities despite the state earning huge revenues from mining in the district it is hardly taking steps for the development of the region said environmentalist bimbadhara beheramost tourist destinations lack basic facilities like food shelter and drinking water said prakash kumar nayak a tourist from cuttackknown for its cool climate keonjhar with its natural waterfalls and greenery can be turned into travellers paradise apart from the famous kanjipani ghat gonasika from where the sacred baitarani and guptaganga rivers originate also attract nature lovers these are thronged by scores of picnickers every year