People's opposition puts on hold casino plan for Khajuraho

The Madhya Pradesh government has put on hold its much-publicised proposal to open a casino at Khajuraho in the wake of stiff opposition from locals.

The nearly 10,000-strong population of this historic town, known the world over for its exquisite erotic stone carvings in the temples, has risen in revolt against the state's plan to attract more tourists by building a casino.

Adding fuel to the fire, political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal have also joined the anti-casino campaign.

''We will not allow gambling to take place openly in the town... We will not allow our wives and daughters to serve liquor in casinos just for the sake of money,'' says Prem Prakash, a 45-year-old shopkeeper outside the famous Vishwa Nath temple.

Another shopkeeper is sure that ''A casino in the town will corrupt our society... We don't want our culture to be polluted in any manner.''

The state has already conducted surveys for opening the casino some six-seven kilometres from the main township. But it is now said to have developed cold feet because of the people's opposition.

There is, however, a minuscule group, comprising mainly of those in the hotel and tourism business, which feels that casinos and such other facilities have become absolutely necessary in the town to attract foreign tourists.

The manager of a leading hotel argues ''What is wrong in having a casino here... It is time we give up our narrow outlook. The foreign tourists are ready to spend and we need foreign exchange in the country.''

The hotel manager believes there is tremendous scope for enhancing tourism in the town by wooing foreign tourists. And this, he adds, can only be done by building recreational facilities. ''If small countries like Nepal and Singapore can attract foreign tourists in large numbers through casinos, why shouldn't we also do the same,'' he wonders.

The hotel manager says the locals are perhaps not aware that recreational facilities in the town would bring them more employment and prosperity. ''Political parties are instigating the innocent people against the move to open a casino here,'' he alleges.

Uma Bharati, a BJP MP from the area, is also against the casino proposal. The hotel manager says foreign tourists want to stay in Khajuraho for a longer period but are feeling compelled to leave in a day or two in the absence of recreation. These foreign tourists see temples during the day but want to enjoy themselves in the evenings.''

Because of the opposition to casino plan, the state has also not paid much attention to its proposal of building a golf course in the town.

A tourist guide says nearly 200,000 tourists visited the town every year to see the extraordinary temples the extraordinary temples, conceived and built by the Chandela Rajputs in a short span of 100 years from AD 950. Forty per cent of the tourists are foreigners.

The number of foreign tourists visiting the town could go up considerably. The guide points out that many foreign tourists do not take the trouble to visit Khajuraho despite their desire because it is not well-connected by road, rail or air.

Earlier, the Indian Airlines used to operate a hopping flight to Khajuraho from Delhi via Agra. But for some reason, the flight has stopped landing at Agra. Many tourists who used come to Khajuraho from Agra have now stopped arriving. Also, the nearest major railway station is Jhansi, about 175 km from Khajuraho and the four-hour road journey is tiresome because of the bumpy ride.

UNI