In a bid to provide hygienic and organised market facility to fish traders, the district administration is all set to develop six state-of-art fish markets in Sambalpur, Burla and Hirakud. These markets would not only provide better trading facility but also remove the make-shift shops on drains and road-side presently used by the fish vendors.
Sambalpur Collector Balwant Singh said an expert team from National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Kerala recently visited Sambalpur town to undertake a survey for the proposed project. Each fish market will accommodate 20 to 30 vendors and fish will be made available to the customers in a hygienic atmosphere. Apart from these fish markets, a wholesale fish market is also being mooted at Durgapali here along NH 6, Singh said.
The Collector said while they are waiting for the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the markets will have facilities like refrigeration, weighing system, running water, drainage and effluent treatment plant. The vendors will be charged for availing the facilities. The maintenance work would be monitored by the Sambalpur Municipality which may outsource sanitation and related works, Singh added.
Tentative locations for four retail fish markets in the town have been identified in Gobindtola, Badbazaar, Bareipali and Budharaja. Similarly, two retail fish markets will be developed in Hirakud and Burla.
The NFDB will offer 90 per cent subsidy as a part of their activities aimed at promoting domestic market and popularising fish consumption. The Municipality will manage the balance 10 per cent and around `6 lakhs will be spent on each retail fish market. There is also a plan to develop an abattoir in the town to facilitate sale of mutton in hygienic condition, the Collector said.
At present, unorganised fish markets have mushroomed all over the town and fishes are sold in unhygienic surroundings. In most of the markets, the shops are located close to drains with place emitting stinking smell. The only organised fish market is situated at Golebazaar. Since it is in dilapidated condition now, the vendors operate from outside the market.
