The standoff between the district administration and the traders over the rent of leased land for this year’s Baliyatra here ended with both the warring factions agreeing that the traders would now pay Rs 33 per square foot of land to be taken as lease to erect their stalls for the 10-day-long festival beginning from November 23.
“This rate, however, is fixed only for the old traders, who are members of the Baliyatra Byabasaya Sangha. But the new traders, who will participate for the first time this year, will have to pay a different price to be fixed by the district administration,” informed Sangha secretary Sukant Mohanty, adding that plot allotments would begin from Sunday.
An area of nearly 40 acres at the lower Baliyatra ground and another 10 acres in the upper ground have been mapped by the tehsildar to be given on lease to the traders for erecting their stalls. Instead of seven days, the district administration this year has allowed the festival to be held for ten days ending on November 3.
On the contentious issue of floating bids for the giant wheels at the Meenabazaar, the traders have suggested the administration to refrain from auctioning as it would have a cascading effect on the prices of joyrides tickets. “The festival is for all sections of the people and the ticket prices for the joyrides should be affordable,” Mohanty said.