Bhubaneswar, Dec. 24: Nearly nine months after chief minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for a wet market at Unit-IV on March 26, local authorities have begun the process to execute the project.
The Bhubaneswar Development Authority, along with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation officials, carried out an eviction drive on December 20, demolishing eight temporary fish and meat stalls in the project area. However, the drive couldn't continue for long because of protests by local sellers.
The term "wet market" originates in Singapore. These markets are referred to as "wet" because shopkeepers clean the floors with water after washing vegetables and cleaning fish and hence the floor often remains wet. Wet markets, however, are not wet and dirty. They will be like modern markets where mainly fresh meat, fish and other poultry products are available.
"The shopkeepers here were aware of the upcoming project where they will be rehabilitated properly. Hence, we carried out the eviction drive without the help of police. However, they opposed the drive as they think that this project, like others, would be delayed and they would be evicted without rehabilitation," said an official at the demolition site.
Hakim Mohammad, who runs a mutton shop here, said the government had promised to develop a modern meat market (which is being referred to as a wet market) here and rehabilitate them, but for nine months there was no development. "They have come now, after so long. What are we supposed to think or do," asked Mohammad. He said the authorities should ensure timely completion of the project.
The Unit-IV Daily Market has one of the biggest meat and fish-selling operations in the city. The government had identified this site for development of a modern meat market, which will come up at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore. In the project, there will be 18 modern shops, which will meet the demand of nearly 20,000 citizens.
BDA liaison officer Subhransu Sekhar Mohanty, under whose supervision the eviction drive was carried out on December 20, said they had demolished eight sheds without the help of the police. "We had a talk with the vendors here and will fix another date shortly to continue the demolition drive for the proposed meat market," said Mohanty.
Civic body sources said the modalities for the project are in its final stage. "We have already issued the tender call notice. We are now in the process of issuing the request for proposal and the tender will be floated simultaneously. If all goes well, the project will be commissioned within the next six to eight months," said a civic body official.
The municipal corporation has proposed another such meat market at Ghatikia where they plan to put up 12 modern meat shops. This part of the project will be executed at a cost of Rs 1.67 crore. Ghatikia has been chosen for the project, as open slaughtering of animals here posed a threat of bird hits at the city airport.
"This is a good initiative to have such facilities for us where we would get clean and hygienic non-vegetarian food items. However, they should ensure timely completion of the project," said Unit IV resident Dibakar Pradhan.
