Ganjam: The familiar Humma weekly market, which was among the list of greater interests for tourists as well as traders in Ganjam district, has received a serious setback in recent times.
The market, which was once flocked by traders from all regions with their merchandise, including dry fish, bamboo craft, vegetables and marriage materials, now wears a deserted look every Sunday. The weekly market is gradually losing its sheen owing to lack of facilities for traders and customers.
Even as all types of items are sold in the market, tribal women selling dried fish are the centre of attraction. The women dressed in their traditional costumes gather at a corner of the market and sell dried fish.
The market attracts buyers in huge numbers mainly owing to the relatively inexpensive prices of dried fish. However, this crowd seems to be soon disappearing by the passing week.
Earlier, traders from Sonepur, Soral, Sumandi and nearby areas came to the market with varieties of dried fish by Saturday night. They used to set up their tents in the market and get ready to welcome customers from early Sunday morning.
No sooner it was morning, the market welcomed a huge number of buyers from all over the region. The traders would sell their dried fishes by mid-noon and return home with lucrative profits. However, lack of several basic facilities in the market has led to its gradual decline.
Even as the market is situated close to the National Highway-16, there is no parking space. Buyers and traders face a lot of problems while parking their vehicles.
On the other hand, the administration does little to clean the market. Adding to the problems, there is are no water and electricity facilities in the market.
“We have tried to bring the matter to the notice of the administration, but in vain,” a trader said. This, in fact, has decreased the number of traders with passage of time. No trader now wants to come to the market, affecting the footfall of customers.
If no initiatives are taken soon, the market, which was once a huge crowd-puller in the district, will become a thing of past, Humma sarpanch Chandra Mohan Sahu said. “I will raise the matter in a meeting of the panchayat,” he added. PNN
