BURLA: Surprising it may sound, Burla town having a population of over 50,000 lacks a community hall or Kalyan Mandap, causing inconvenience to residents to organise social functions.
Though the State Government has sanctioned `37 lakhs for construction of a Kalyan Mandap, the project is yet to take off due to lack of land at a suitable location.
Taking advantage of the situation, private tent house owners are busy filling their pockets by charging exorbitant price from the people to organise social events.
Sources said a private club near VSS University of Technology (VSSUT) is charging exorbitant price to lease out its place for functions. This apart, there is a small hall, popularly known as ‘Tin Ghar’ owned by Main Dam Division. The place is a hot favourite among the middle class and lower middle class people. But being the only place of its kind, getting it booked is not always easy.
Over the years, the town’s population has increased significantly with the establishment of a number of industries. After work on Hirakud Dam began in 1948, people from across the State and country made the town their home.
Gradually, the VSSUT, formerly known as University College of Engineering (UCE) was established in 1956 followed by VSS Medical College and Hospital in 1959 and Sambalpur University in 1967. The town also houses corporate headquarters offices of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited and WESCO besides offices of Hirakud Dam Project, Odisha Hydro Power Project, Central Water Commission and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology.
Executive Officer of Burla NAC Nirupa Behera said they are on the look out for a suitable land for construction of the mandap. Once the land is identified, work on the Kalyan Mandap will be initiated, she added.