Bargarh, June 14 (KNN) Weavers operating at Bargarh’s Behera Kapda market in Odisha are facing resistance from a group of people since last week regarding weekly market operations.

They have reached out to the district administration on Tuesday and urged to take necessary actions to ensure the smooth operation of the weekly handloom market on Wednesdays. 

The market also known as Balijhori haat used to operate on Fridays every week prior to the covid-19 pandemic.

On returning to normalcy they decided to change the operation days to Wednesday since many vegetable vendors also put up their stalls on Fridays leading to a shortage of space. 

However, some people since the last one week have been opposing the same and forcing the weavers to run their markets on Fridays.

The weavers claimed that operating their stalls on Fridays yet again would lead to conflict with the vendors. 

“Since a large number of weavers from different parts of the state come to the market, all of them cannot be accommodated on Fridays. We request the district administration to take action against those obstructing our business and ensure our security from such exploiters,” they added. 

President of Sambalpuri Kapda Bazar Bunakar Sangha, Ajodhya Meher said the miscreants are neither locals nor have anything to do with the handloom market but are still trying to assert their authority over the market. 

“We have informed the matter to the district administration and will operate on Wednesdays as usual,” Meher added.

Thousands of weavers from across Bargarh, Barpali and nearby districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Nuapada among others besides Mahasamund and Raigarh in neighbouring Chhattisgarh turn up with their handloom products at the market every week on Wednesdays. (KNN Bureau)