Odisha Light House Tourism.

Why in news?

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is to develop five light houses in the state of Odisha.
• The Light Houses are to be built in Public – Private Partnership mode. The identified districts are as follows: Gopalpur lighthouse in Ganjam, Paradip lighthouse in Jagatsinghpur, alse point lighthouse in Kendrapara, Chandrabhaga lighthouse in Puri and Puri lighthouse.
• 71 lighthouses have been identified to increase lighthouse tourism. The plan is to build open air theatre, cafeteria, museum, children’s park, landscaping and eco – friendly cottages in these light houses.
• The Odisha Light house tourism being developed is a part of Marine aids to Navigation 2021. Under the aid, the development was to be brought in the states of Gujarat, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The aid will help develop the lighthouses into tourism destinations. It will preserve the historical and traditional values of the lighthouses.
• The lighthouses are maintained by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and lightships which functions under the Ministry of Shipping.
• Facts-
• The Jeddah port control tower is the tallest lighthouse in the world. It is 133 metres tall.
• The tallest lighthouse in India is located in Jakhau port of Gujarat. It is 45 metres tall.