Traders-Admin Reach Consensus On Ground Rent For 10-Day Bali Jatra

Cuttack: The row over fair ground rent for Bali Jatra has ended with the Cuttack district administration and Bali Jatra Traders’ Association reaching a consensus in a meeting held here on Friday.

Furthermore, the fair celebrating the maritime history of Odisha will be held for 10 days this year, informed deputy collector Prabodh Kumar Rout.

The annual fair is usually held for seven days.

According to sources, the district administration has fixed Rs 33 per square feet for stalls at Bali Jatra ground. The space allotment process will begin from Saturday.

“The deadlock has been resolved. Last year, we had paid Rs 27 per square feet. Since the fair will be held for 10 days this year, we have to shell out Rs 3.38 extra a day,” said Baliyatra Traders’ Association president Devi Prasad Mohanty.

Traders can now book the stalls at this pre-decided price, he added.

“All knotty issues have been ironed out and the fair will now be conducted smoothly like every year,” said Cuttack Sadar Tehsildar Sanjay Pratihari.

Putting to rest the confusion over the number of days for which the fair will be held, Association secretary Sukant Mohanty said it will be 10-day affair beginning November 23.

“Earlier it was decided to hold Bali Jatra for 11 days, which would have included a four-day-long city festival. The city festival will be held at Barabati Stadium from November 30 to December 2, while the fair will be for 10 days,” he added.