CUTTACK: While traders across the country are concerned about GST, the traders at Malgodown are struggling to deal with a different problem: the rodent menace.The rats are giving sleepless nights to the 1200 traders doing business at Malgodown, state's biggest wholesale commodity market. Army of rats have been swarming into godowns and damaging food grains worth lakhs stocked by the traders. And in monsoons the problem has just worsened."As the burrows of rats are now filled with rainwater, our godowns have turned safe haven for them. The rats menace is nothing new for Malgodown but as the civic body has turned blind eye to the issue the problem has aggravated now," said Kamal Sharma, a Malgodown trader.Men in the business have claimed that at least 25 to 30 per cent of their stocks are damaged by rats annually. The worst affected are rice, wheat, pulses and sugar wholesalers. The traders claimed that they have tried almost every possible way from installing electric rat repellants to rat trap. Some even renovated their godowns by strengthening the concrete floor to keep the rodents at bay. But it was of no avail."Every morning when godown is opened, I find sacks chewed by rats and rice scattered all over on the floor. I have hired special labourers, who clean the mess everyday and take away the waste rice," said R K Rout, a rice trader.Traders have alleged that due to poor sanitation and road condition in Malgodown , spread over 25 acres, it has turned a perfect breeding ground for rats."You will be amazed to see cat sized rats in our godowns. As the entire locality is in mess, population of rats has been multiplying and prospering here. We suffer at least Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore annually due to rodents menace," said secretary of Cuttack Chamber of Commerce, B K Mohanty.Mohanty alleged that in last five years traders have met the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) authorities several times appealing them to clean the area.However, all the appeals have fallen on deaf years. "Forget about taking measures to resolve rat menace, the CMC authorities are yet to put a dustbin in Malgodown. The entire locality stinks as it is not even swept properly," added Mohanty. "We have moved Orissa high court highlighting our plight. We have prayed court to restrict CMC from collecting holding tax, trade licenses from us as they are literally not providing any civic amenities to us," said Mohanty.However, Mayor Meenakshi Behera has said that measures are being taken to resolve sanitation issues at Malgodown. "We are trying our best to improve sanitation condition at Malgodown. Cleaning activities have been intensified in the area," said the Mayor.

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