Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 11: Agriculture, fisheries and animal resources development (FARD) minister Pradeep Maharathy Wednesday said the government has sent notices to 54 Orissa State Poultry Products Co-operative Marketing Federation Limited (OPOLFED) poultry booths occupying government land in the city.
The notices have been served on OPOLFED operators for illegally selling junk food instead of selling poultry products such as eggs and raw chicken meat and encroaching upon government land.
“An inquiry has revealed that original allottees have transferred OPOLFED booths to other parties without permission from government agencies. The booths are also in possession of excess government land. Such kiosks are selling junk food under the banner of OPOLFED and drawing electricity and water connections from departments concerned,” a letter issued by FARD joint secretary RN Mishra stated.
Notably, this newspaper has been highlighting issues of OPOLFED booth owners gobbling up government land and selling junk food by brazenly violating the OPOLFED norms.
According to a FARD department release, the Orissa High Court November 11, 2014 directed state government to bring down illegal portions of the poultry kiosks under OPOLFED banner.
However, the HC had earlier stayed eviction of OPOLFED booths July 14, 2014 but it lifted the stay when OPOLFED officials moved the court against vendors.
The court had also asked Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and general administration department (GAD) to take appropriate action against errant OPOLFED operators who have encroached land beyond permissible limits.
The GAD allots 10X12 ft land to OPOLFED booths for selling poultry products while BMC issues trade licences to operators.
“We do not have information about identified illegal poultry product booths. The matter is with the GAD and BMC,” OPOLFED general manager Prasanna Biswal told this newspaper.
Meanwhile, the Corporation officials remained tightlipped on the issue. BMC municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar could not be contacted over phone.