Bhubaneswar: The eviction and demolition of commercial establishments in the vicinity of the Lingaraj Temple continued today without any protest after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to Bhubaneswar residents to make a sacrifice for sake of the 1,000-year-old shrine's security and promised adequate compensation.
The commercial establishment owners had been protesting with demands of compensation. However, it was called off after the State government’s announcement of compensating shopkeepers with cash Rs 30,000 in two instalments. They will also be getting shops in vending zones which will be constructed soon. The owner of brick and mortar (pucca) shops will get Rs 10,000 per month for one year in terms of rent. They will be rehabilitated in the proposed market complex to be constructed by the Tourism Department.
The local administration held meetings with titleholders (owner of residential and commercial buildings) and the compensation was decided upon as per applicable provisions of the law.
In this regard, OMMCOM NEWS spoke to a few traders and took their opinion.
Traders mostly supported the State Government’s decision of eviction and rehabilitation announcement. They said they were happy with the financial aid promised to them. However, some of them also made demands of construction of a market complex.