Faceoff between traders, CMC enforcement squad sparks tension at Cuttack Chhatrabazar

Tension prevailed at Chhatrabazar in Cuttack on Saturday after the enforcement squad of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) launched a drive to evict vendors who do their business on the verandahs of godowns in the market.

The traders alleged that the CMC enforcement squad forcibly took away their vegetables and other articles in a bid to clear the area. It is pertinent to mention here that the CMC had recently inaugurated Urban Haat where the roadside vendors can sell vegetables on concrete structures called pindis.

“The enforcement squad officials came and asked why we were sitting here. They also took away our products,” alleged a trader.

Another trader said, “It is a 1000-year-old market and our ancestors have been eking out a living by selling vegetables and other articles on roadside. Those who are selling produce in the Urban Haat are not able to do a good business whereas we are able to make some money by doing business at the old place.”

Most of the traders are reluctant to sell their produce at the Urban Haat of the civic body.

“Our market will not be relocated at any cost. We do not want any facilities that have been provided at the newly set up unit. We will not move to the place,” said another trader.

Meanwhile, the CMC enforcement squad officials could not be contacted over the allegations levelled by the traders.