Koraput: The Congress on Wednesday took out a rally and staged a dharna at the municipal office of Jeypore, demanding cancellation of tender floated to outsource fee collection at daily and weekly markets for the coming fiscal.

Sources said the system of fee collection by private parties had been stopped through a resolution by the municipal council three years ago as there were allegations that the lease-holders forcibly collected excess amount than the prescribed fees from street vendors and vegetable sellers.

At present, the municipal officials collect daily fees from the vendors at the daily and weekly markets in Jeypore.

"The poor farmers, who bring their produce to Jeypore market for selling, are being harassed by the lease-holders as they forcibly collect much more amount than the fees fixed by the municipality. In the past, the situation had turned violent on several occasions," said Jeypore town Congress committee president Nori Mohanty.

As agitations by the vendors were experienced on a daily basis objecting to the exorbitant tax collection by the lease-holders, Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati had intervened in the matter and the system was abolished through a resolution by the municipal council in 2015.

"Now, the authorities concerned have decided to reintroduce the system which is unacceptable. Once again, the small vendors will be exploited by the lease-holders. Hence, we demand to cancel the tender process and continue the practice of collecting fees by municipal officials," said Bahinipati.

"If our demand is not fulfilled, the agitation will be intensified in the coming days," he said. The irate Congress workers pelted the municipal office with tomatoes and submitted a memorandum to the executive officer for necessary action.

Jeypore municipality executive officer Bikash Chandra Baina said: "The tender has been floated after due discussion with the council. If the council will oppose, we will cancel the tender process."

BJD spokesperson Rabi Narayan Nanda, too, objected to the decision of engaging private parties in fee collection from the vendors.