Cuttack, Dec. 13: Traders of sector 6 to sector 12 have come together to form the Abhinab Bidanasi Byabasai Sangh against the development authority's proposed move to prevent commercial establishments functioning at residential plots.

The traders are angry as the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) plans to conduct a survey to identify persons illegally using residential plots for commercial purposes at Markat Nagar in Bidanasi.

"All traders will fight under one banner from now on. The association has already started taking suggestion from traders and a final decision regarding our course of action would be taken on December 15," said Abhinab Bidanasi Byabasai Sangh president Kaushal Sharma.

Sharma said there are over 800 traders engaged in various commercial activities at the CDA-developed satellite township on the western fringes of the city.

The traders alleged the development authority did not plan commercial complexes according to the need of the residents and to meet rapid urbanisation. Even earmarked commercial plots are used as godowns instead of commercial activities.

The traders' body said the CDA's proposal to seal commercial units running from residential plots would also affect over one lakh people in the area.

"At present, residents get every product and emergency medicine at their doorstep. If the traders are not allowed to do business at Markat Nagar, people would have to travel all the way to Chandni Chowk, some three to four kilometres away from sector 6 for household articles," said Kishore Patnaik, a trader.

Residents have also come out in support of the traders as they feel the CDA's move would affect them.

The development authority, on the other hand, said business establishments on on residential plots had violated the existing norms of the lease agreement. It plans to seal these units to put a check on such illegal activities.

CDA vice-chairman Pratap Das had earlier told The Telegraph that proposals are in the pipeline and a survey would be conducted to identify the commercial activities on residential plots in the first phase.