Puri Transformation: Swift Rehabilitation By Administration Welcomed by Affected Shopkeepers

Puri: As the process of transforming Puri into a World Heritage City continues at full throttle, the district administration on the other hand has been taking many significant steps to rehabilitate the affected shopkeepers.

With the demolition of the dilapidated buildings around Jagannath Temple, the administration had to remove as many as 81 shops that were present there. Within four days of the demolition of the Languli Matha and the Emar Matha, the administration has already rehabilitated more than 26 shopkeepers by providing them with alternate shops at the Jagannath Ballabha Market Complex. The swift action by the administration has been welcomed by all the shopkeepers who have now got a new address which is going to be a major attraction in the coming days.

Pankaj Agarwal, whose family owned a Sarees and Handloom products shop in the Emar Matha Building for the last 124 years, has expressed satisfaction over the allotment of new shop by the district administration. He said “It’s a mixed feeling which we are having since our shop has been demolished and a new shop is being provided as per the instructions of the District Collector. We hold our hands and thank him for the fast action taken to provide us the new shop. It was really fast and within four days he was able to provide us a shop.”

The administration plans to rehabilitate the remaining affected people as early as possible at appropriate places. The government has also plans to relocate some of the shopkeepers near to the Jail Road Jatrika and other complexes in phases. The administration has also assured the shopkeepers to provide them rental assistance if they don’t find any appropriate place and want to rent a shop of their own choice.

On the other hand, fulfilling the promise made to street vendors on rehabilitating them after the Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani, the district administration provided financial assistance to 1369 street vendors. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released the financial assistant through Video Conferencing on the occasion of Local self Government Day on Saturday. Each of the vendors was given Rs 10 thousand for rehabilitation who were affected by the Cyclone. This will go a long way in augmenting their income and helping them financially. Of the 1369 vendors, 943 were doing small business on the Badadanda by selling Prasad, Diya, Bangles, Toys and so on. The street vendors were very happy that the government came to their rescue when the natural calamity hit them. Kunti Behera, who sells coconuts and flowers on the Badadanda expressed her gratitude by saying “I am thankful to the government to help me with the financial assistance. I received the money yesterday and I am very happy. It will really help me and my family. I had lost my livelihood after the Cyclone Fani for more than a month. Now we are slowly recovering from the situation. This financial assistance will help me in expanding my business.” The administration aims to provide assistance to another two thousand street vendors in phases in the coming days.