Bhubaneswar: Unauthorised vending zones, Omfed and Opolfed booths are flourishing in the area under the jurisdiction of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) – thanks to the apathy of a few unscrupulous civic body officials who work hand in glove with local corporators for private benefits.
Statistics available with the BMC show that in a bid to streamline and relocate 1,107-odd street vendors, the civic body had authorised 46 vending zones across the Capital. However, later the number was reduced to 41. Unofficial sources, meanwhile, claimed at least 20 vending zones have been operating in posh areas under BMC sans authorisation.
As a result, a large area of government land has been encroached. Now, the enforcement squad finds difficult to evict the unauthorised vendors, as they are allegedly enjoying the patronage of top officials.
Provisions mandate that before setting up a vending zone, the BMC administration submit a ground report to the civic body, which would discuss various aspects before giving its approval. The flourishing illegal vending zones in the city, speaks volumes about the local corporators’ nexus with a few unscrupulous BMC officials.
This apart, it has been alleged that the civic body has no concrete data regarding the occupants at the authorised vending zones. That the BMC only have vague figures of vending zones is evident enough that the top officials have been in slumber so far.
Although the Central and state governments have chalked out a series a development plans to transform the Capital into a Smart City, the mushrooming vending zones have been hindering the development process. Sources said Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and BMC have been facing tough situations while planning for or expanding roads, drains and sewerage channels in the city.
Sources said, following allegations of escalating illegal vending zones, the General Administration (GA) department special secretary AK Meena has written to the BMC April 4, 2016, imposing curbs on construction of vending zones.
The letter especially directed BMC commissioner Krishan Kumar to discourage setting up of new vending zones and booths of Omfed, Opolfed as well as PCOs on any government land in the city.
Moreover, the GA department had also asked the BMC to check whether those already authorised for setting up such booths or vending zones were actually in possession of the structures or have already sold their structures. The letter further directed the BMC to scrap all applications for new booths. However, the civic body has set aside the state government directive, allegedly to protect some vested interest.
When asked about steps taken in response to the letter of GA department, BMC commissioner Krishan Kumar feigned ignorance saying he could not remember receiving any such letter.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, however, said they would soon raze the unauthorised vending zones as well as Omfed and Opolfed booths across the city.
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