Other States - Orissa   

Vendors sound a note of warning

CUTTACK: Even as the Reliance Group is determined to take over Orissa’s retail market, small traders of the city, numbering over 50,000, have resolved to oppose the opening of multi-crore retail outlets.

The local administration, anticipating a serious law and order situation over the issue in the near future, is trying to play it safe and has taken some precautionary measures.

Vendors have threatened to launch a massive protest against Reliance Fresh outlets. “A riot-like situation witnessed in Ranchi, Lucknow and Kochi recently over the issue cannot be ruled out on the streets of this historic city,” threatens the State Vendors’ Association.

Reliance plans to open at least eight outlets in Cuttack in phases. At least three of them are ready to be opened anytime before Dasara.

Local shop-owners have already staged spirited protests against attempts to take over the Rs.10,000-crore retail market. Members of the local bazaar committees, puja committees and peace committee have urged the district administration to intervene.

In this backdrop, Cuttack Collector Sujata Karthikeyan has asked Reliance authorities not to go ahead with their plans.

“A large section of people, including an all-party delegation have sought my intervention. As such, the district administration has no role to play in it. But, looking at public outcry against retail chain outlets and in order to avoid any law and order problem in the city, we have asked the Reliance Group to open their outlets only when consumers want them to do so,” the Collector has said. The district SP has already conveyed this message to officials concerned.

Meanwhile, State Vendors’ Federation chief Subash Singh on Monday alleged that the Reliance Group was not in a mood to heed to the request of the local administration.

“The company seems to have no concern for people’s feelings. It is going ahead with its plans to open outlets in the satellite township at Abhinav Bidanasi, Kanika Chowk, Mahanadi Vihar, Dolamundai and Choudhury Bazaar. At a high-level meeting at an undisclosed place in the city on August 28, it has decided to open at least three outlets without much fanfare within weeks,” Mr. Singh charged.

Attempts to contact Reliance officials for confirmation were in vain as they remained incommunicado.

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