Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Sep 5: It appears that the hope of the people from the city to have a permanent weekly market structure has been doomed. Three years back, land had been earmarked for the Puttur weekly market, and one crore rupees had been set aside for it under the Nagarothana scheme. But the land meant for the market has now been diverted for another project.
The previous city municipal administration here, under the leadership of Jayanthi Balnad had decided to construct weekly market at the spot where the old municipal office stood. Out of Rs 25 crore sanctioned for the city under the Nagarothana scheme of the government, one crore rupees had been earned for market construction. The plan envisaged shifting of the weekly market that is being held at Kille Maidan since the last 18 years on a temporary basis, to the new market.
Before 2002, the weekly market used to be held in a spot next to the court building for the last 100 years. After the construction of a new administrative building for the then municiality started, the market was temporarily shifted to the Maidan. After the municipal building was completed, the market stayed at the Maidan.
As per the order of the then assistant commissioner dated August 11, 2016, the market was shifted to APMC yard but on account of protest and agitation against the shifting, it returned to Kille Maidan in five months. After lot of sites were examined, the municipal administration earmarked the spot where the old municipal building stood for the market, and set aside one crore rupees.
Out of Nagarothana scheme fund, Kille Maidan renovation was completed in Janaury. Lockdown inflicted further damage. Now the new administrative building for the municipality has been planned to be built at the spot where the market was to come up. Foundation stone has been laid and one crore rupees earmarked for the market is being used for the new building.
Former opposiiton leader in the municipality, H Muhakmed Ali said that there is a conspiracy to permanently drop the idea of having the historic Monday market of Puttur. He wondered why those who fought against the shifting of the market to APMC yard in the past are now silent. He said the plan to close the weekly market would be resisted by all means.