Resolution Achieved: Humma Dry Fish Market Now Under Fisheries Department Control

Conflict Resolved Over Humma Dry Fish Market

Ganjam: The ongoing dispute between local panchayat officials and the Panchudola Yatra Committee concerning the Humma dry fish market has reached a resolution.

This market, recognized as one of the largest in Asia, is now officially managed by the Fisheries department following a government notification and land allocation that previously sparked the disagreement.

A new committee will be established to oversee the market's development, with the Ganjam district collector appointed as the chairperson.

The deputy director of fisheries for the Ganjam Zone will serve as the vice chairperson, while the committee will also include the district fisheries officer, block development officer, tehsildar, SDPO of Chhatrapur, Humma sarpanch, additional fisheries officer, two fish traders, and three local residents, as per Fisheries department officials.

The resolution was finalized during a high-level administrative meeting held at the market site on Wednesday morning.

Attendees included Sub-Collector Debasish Baral, Deputy Director of Fisheries Suresh Chandra Behera, BDO Achyutananda Jani, Tehsildar Sukanta Chandra Mishra, District Fisheries Officer Bibhuti Bhushan Sah, Additional Fisheries Officer Subrata Kumar Pattnaik, AFO Bibhu Prasad Swain, Humma outpost officer Subhrajit Samantray, Humma Society member Dhruva Charan Palai, Panchudola Yatra Committee president Santosh Kumar Sahu, cultural secretary Jogesh Chandra Sahu, general secretary Rama Rao Reddy, local residents from eight villages, and traders.

During the meeting, the sub-collector addressed concerns regarding alleged irregularities in the land allotment process, clarifying that the initiative began nearly ten years ago and that the Fisheries department is now responsible for its enhancement.

A significant decision made during the discussions was to implement a sealed tender box method for awarding the market's management contract, a departure from the conventional open bidding approach.

Additionally, it was agreed that 50% of the market's revenue would be directed towards panchayat development.

Expenses related to sanitation, upkeep, and electricity for the market complex will be managed according to the society committee's decisions, as confirmed by the sub-collector.

The sub-collector assured that the traditional Panchudola Yatra would continue unaffected despite the market's transfer to the Fisheries department.