Balangir, Feb. 6: Vendors at the Central Vegetable Market near Ram temple here shut shops for three days on Tuesday, demanding electricity, drinking water, toilets and other infrastructure facilities.

This has led to non-availability of vegetables in Balangir town. Other small vegetable markets have also closed their shops as a token of support for the central market vendors.

Lalit Sahu, a local resident, said he was facing a lot of difficulties in procuring vegetables for the marriage of a relative. “My niece is getting married. I had to send people to Tarabha to get vegetables,” he said.

About a lakh people here depend on this daily market for vegetables and other essential commodities. During the evening rush hour, sellers and buyers face inconveniences because of the absence of electricity in the market.

Secretary of the Vegetable Sellers’ Union of Balangir Kunu Pradhan said the civic body collected revenue of at least Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 everyday from the vegetable sellers, but didn’t provide basic amenities.

“We were forced to close the market in the evening as there is no electricity here. There is no toilet or provision for drinking water. The municipality collects tax from each and every vegetable vendor, but doesn’t take care of any infrastructure development,” Pradhan said.

Balangir Municipality chairman Damayanti Bag said she would look into the matter.

“We will try to sort out the problem as soon as possible. Wesco will take up the electricity work. The vegetable sellers had given an application for power supply. But they did not talk about their decision to shut the market. They should understand that people are facing problems,” she said.