Sambalpur: Over a Hundred Families Unemployed Due to Samalei Project; Displaced Families Not Receiving New Shops

Shops Remain Closed Despite Completion

Sambalpur: The Samalei project in Sambalpur, once aimed at global development, has left over a hundred families jobless. For generations, these middle-class and poor families ran small shops around the temple to sustain their livelihoods. However, after the demolition of their shops for the project, they are now struggling without any income.

Families Struggling for Livelihood

The affected families continue to face financial hardship. Many have been waiting for their shops to be restored for years. Some families are even selling goods on the streets to survive. Although the local authorities built 89 shops on the project site, these remain unallotted despite the completion.

Unfulfilled Promises

The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation prepared a list of 70 families eligible for the new shops. The families were shown the shops before the project’s inauguration in January 2024, giving them hope. However, even a year later, the shops remain locked, and the families continue to be jobless.

Appeals Ignored

The affected shopkeepers have made repeated appeals to the municipal office, but officials keep delaying the allocation. Vendors like Dushasan Dubai, who ran a brass and stone idol shop for 22 years, expressed their frustration over being unemployed for three years despite multiple follow-ups.

Local Voices Demand Action

Several families have accused the authorities of favoritism, as some eligible vendors were excluded from the allocation list. Three affected vendors are still waiting for compensation of Rs. 30,000 promised during the demolition.

Authorities Assure Steps

The Municipal Commissioner stated that applications for shop allocation are being reviewed in two categories: those who legally owned shops and those who were occupying government land for profit. The authorities have promised to prioritize families who suffered genuine losses due to the project.

The affected families remain hopeful for a fair and swift resolution to their ongoing struggles.