Cuttack Urban Haat scam! ‘Pindi fees embezzled’

Serious allegations have surfaced regarding the management of fees collected from small traders doing business on pindis at Chhatra Bazaar in Cuttack City, on Thursday.

According to sources, concerns about irregularities have arisen over the potential misappropriation of lakhs of rupees, with calls for transparency and accountability continuing to mount. The Right to Information (RTI) Act has played a pivotal role in bringing attention to the financial mismanagement, but the probe appears to be progressing sluggishly.

A significant issue at the heart of the matter is the tracking of funds collected from the traders. While substantial amounts are regularly compiled from the pindi-occupiers, many question the lack of essential facilities.

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An RTI report indicates that from September to December 2022, approximately Rs 6,88,000 was collected. Moreover, around Rs 3.27 Lakh was being collected in a month from 545 pindis paying Rs 20 each per day. A total of Rs 9.81 Lakh was expected over three months. This leaves around Rs 2.93 Lakh unaccounted for.

The local traders have expressed their frustration, pointing out that despite their consistent fee payments; they see little improvement in the basic market facilities. Problems persist with inadequate drinking water, poor waste disposal, and generally unsanitary conditions.

This situation has led the business community to openly question if the marketplace is gradually deteriorating into a neglected space.

Sources point to the allocation of funds for the Urban Haat project, suggesting a lack of oversight. During the previous government, Mission Shakti was responsible for overseeing fee collections, but scrutiny over where the money has been directed continues.

It has also emerged that more local traders than officially registered are operating stalls and remitting payments, yet this revenue remains unrecorded.

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Despite collection of daily fees, the upkeep and development of the urban market remain inadequate, fuelling suspicions of fund mismanagement. While the RTI query has unearthed crucial information about these discrepancies, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner has allegedly been slow to act on the probe.

When contacted, the CMC Commissioner Anam Charan Patra said, “We have assigned the responsibility to our Deputy Commissioner. Women self-help groups (WSHGs) are collecting the fees and are depositing the same in the CMC office daily.”

“The SHGs are being paid their supervision charges as per government norms,” the CMC Commissioner further said.