Odisha to renovate urban haats to attract tourists

Bhubaneswar: In order to facilitate marketing of the handloom, textile and handicraft products in the post-lockdown scenario, the Odisha government has initiated the process for renovating the urban haats, presently operating at Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri.

A high level meeting to this effect was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy at Lokseba Bhawan conference hall here on Thursday. 

Reviewing the current scenario, Tripathy directed to renovate the urban haats to the points of tourist attraction in these places.

He further directed to develop the spots through convergence of tourism, cultural and handicraft activities.

Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra advised to provide space to traditional craftsman for exhibiting and selling their products throughout the year directly to the domestic and international customers. 

Mohapatra added that this would give wider exposure to the artisans and fetch more income against their own products.

They would also get a direct sense of the customers’ choice and demand.

It was decided in the meeting that Textile, Handloom and Handicraft department would maintain and upscale these haats to attractive commercial spots for their products.

Participating in the discussion, IDCO Chief Managing Director Sanjay Kumar Singh apprised, “Urban haat at Bhubaneswar has been built over on area of 5 acres of land with around 50 stalls, one amphitheater, two green rooms, 10 food stalls and one toilet. The haat at Puri has been built over an area of 6.83 acres with 36 stalls, one amphitheater, two green rooms, two dormitories and one toilet.

The haat at Konark developed over 4.15 acres has 40 stalls, four exhibition halls, one amphitheater, two green rooms, one utility building, one toilet and one dormitory”.

All these haats are presently operating and are being maintained by IDCO.

Textile, Handloom and Handicraft secretary Subha Sharma outlined the issues and presented the updates for discussion.