Sambalpur: Vending Zone Turns into Open Toilet in Sambalpur; Ramsagar Area Filled with Garbage and Waste

Encroachment and Misuse of Public Property

Sambalpur: In Sambalpur city, the vending zone problem continues to grow. If just two food vendors sit by the roadside, a new vending zone seems to begin there. The administration had earlier removed roadside vendors near the Fire Department office. However, those vendors have now shifted to an old government bus stand land to run their market.

Ironically, the vending zone built behind Ramsagar Bandh has now turned into an open toilet. The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) had spent government funds to develop this space two years ago. They constructed iron gates, boundary walls, paved floors, and created a neat environment between Dhobijor and Ramsagar Bandh. Yet, no vendor has ever used the facility since it was built.

Now a Dump Yard and Hangout Spot

The back gate of the vending zone remains locked, while the front gate near the fire office is open. Over time, the place has been neglected, and heaps of garbage have collected. As a result, it is now used as an open toilet. Worse, anti-social elements have turned the area into a spot for regular hangouts.

Vendors Forced to Sell on Roadsides

While the vending zone lies abandoned, many vendors continue to sell food either on the roadside or on muddy ground. The makeshift roadside market is also causing traffic problems. After the old bus stand building was demolished, a market had started there, but now the rains have made the ground so muddy that it is impossible to walk.

SMC’s New Plan

When officials brought this issue to the notice of the SMC enforcement officer Sushant Sahu, he assured that vendors would be shifted from the bus stand area to the Ramsagar vending zone. Additionally, SMC has recently removed encroachments from Jhupuḍibasti in Paradeshipada (Sahu Colony) to widen roads. The administration now plans to use the cleared space for development work.

Citizens Raise Concerns

Despite many plans by SMC, people claim that these plans are rarely implemented effectively. Consequently, the public does not benefit, and complaints continue to pour in.