Omfed, Opolfed booths come under BMC scanner

BHUBANESWAR: Another round of survey will be made on the Opolfed and Omfed booths in the city by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to find out the number of illegal booths that have mushroomed. According to the recovery officer of BMC Sumita Behera, 66 Opolfed and 108 Omfed booths have been allotted licence. A few other booths have been given the licence by the GA Department. But in a recent meeting with BMC authorities, the representatives of Omfed Opolfed PCO Mahasangha Association have alleged existence of numerous illegal booths. A member of the association put the number of Omfed and Opolfed booths at 400. A committee has been constituted which will be responsible for the survey. The last survey by BMC was done in 2008. The survey will also check if the booths are selling only products specified to them like poultry or milk products or any other products. One can find Omfed booths selling everything from cigarettes to grocery. Some of the booths have now doubled up as fast food joints.  The demolition of illegal booths will continue, Behera said. This has created a fear among booth owners and all of them are carrying their documents all the time. Many  Opolfed booths are using more space than allotted, he said. A member of the association alleged that  in a recent eviction drive, BMC authorities have demolished a legal Omfed booth near fire-station and one in front of Shreeya Stutee hall.  The BMC will soon come up with new guidelines for shifting and relocation of the Opolfed and Omfed booths that have been demolished due to road expansion. Also the booths which are creating problems for traffic will be relocated. A number of booths near the roadsides will also be removed. “These booths are creating problems for the traffic,” Behera added.