Puri: Fish and seafood lovers, there’s a piece of good news for you. If things go well, an ultramodern fish market with state-of-the-art facilities would come up soon at Talabania here.
Envisioned by the Fisheries department with an initial estimation of Rs 6 crore, the mega fish market would come upon a 2.5 acre land at Talabania area in the Pilgrim City here.
Puri, being one of the biggest tourist destinations in eastern India, draws people from far and wide. Besides visiting the Srimandir, tourists and devotees usually prefer spending time at the golden beach. At a time when such experiences give solace to the restless minds, roadside vendors selling fish and seafood hither and thither in an untidy condition are nothing short of a mood spoiler.
“The state government has been spending crores of rupees to transform Puri as a World Heritage City. This would help draw more tourists from across the globe. Amid such a scenario, fish waste to rainwater passing through to trash and making the localities complete eyesore would definitely leave a scar in the minds of tourists. Even those residing near the makeshift fish shops in the Holy City have expressed displeasure over the untidy scenario,” an official of the Fisheries department said explaining the need for such a one-stop destination for all types of fish and seafood buyers.
The official added that instead of selling the stuff here and there, the fish vendors will be allotted dedicated space at the upcoming marketplace. Initially, arrangements will be done for 100 sellers. Depending upon the demand, it will be upgraded to multi-storey. Fresh fish and seafood will be made available at the marketplace under hygienic conditions.
“Wastewater from the marketplace will be filtered before being released into drain. This apart, trash from the market will be collected and dumped at a faraway place on a regular basis— no foul odour or swampy environment anymore,” said the official, adding that a vegetable market would also come up near the fish market.
Asked, district fisheries officer Debendra Behera said that the marketplace would be a one-stop destination for fish sellers and buyers with hygiene being paramount.