Bengaluru: Krishna Rajendra Market popularly known as KR Market is the biggest market in Bengaluru. It is also considered as one of the heritage places in the city.
If the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is serious about making Bengaluru as a smart city, KR Market is one of the places that needs to be developed. However, if the rampant corruption, unhygienic condition and illegal vendors are anything to go by, it seems that all is not well at this historic market place that attracts thousands of footfalls on a daily basis.
Unhygienic conditions
KR Market used to hog the lime light every Monday when Katte Satyanarayana was elected as Mayor of Bengaluru. The Mayor used to visit the KR Market every Monday to supervise the cleaning process. He invited cinema, TV artistes and even students from various schools and colleges to participate in the cleaning of KR Market. Initially, it was opposed by the shopkeepers but later the same people appreciated the Mayor for keeping the market clean. His initiative was also appreciated by Karnataka Lokayukta.
However, one cannot find the same enthusiasm and commitment from the present incumbent and the BBMP authorities. With Mayor Sampath Raj engrossed in visiting BBMP Control Rooms, pothole-ridden roads apart from storm water drains that claim lives on a regular basis whenever a heavy rain lashes Bengaluru, the condition of the KR Market is back to square one.
“There is a need for keeping the market clean since it attracts thousands of people from all parts of Bengaluru. There are conservancy workers but they do not do what they are supposed to do,’’ said Abdul Khan, a leader of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike who also owns a vegetable shop in the market.
Bio-Methanation Plant shut
The bio-methanation plant, commissioned by Ashoka Biogreen Pvt Limited, was inaugurated in June 2014 with much fanfare. The KR Market was expected to be lit up by the electricity generated from the waste within the market. The electricity generated at the bio-methanation plant was supposed to be used to power around 100 bulbs. The plant capacity was five tonnes of wet waste. The plant, however, remained shut for more than a year.
As usual the reason is the apathy of the BBMP authorities in clearing the pending bills.
“The plant is shut for one year. The BBMP authorities failed to clear the amount meant for operational cost though the civic body paid the capital investment of Rs 75 lakh after much delay. We are trying our best to hand over the plant to another company,’’ said N.S. Ramakanth, member, Solid Waste Management Roundtable.
Confirming the delay in clearing pending bills, an employee of Ashoka Biogreen Private Limited, on condition of anonymity, said that the operational costs amounting to lakhs of rupees, has been pending for more than a year.
“The BBMP is supposed to pay Rs 64,000 per month to us for maintaining the bio-methanation plant. We find no option other than shutting down the plant since we have no funds to operate it,’’ he said.
No takers
The then Mayor G. Padmavathi took an initiative to construct shops for footpath vendors who were blocking the way for pedestrians and those who come to the KR Market. The BBMP has awarded the contract to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) for constructing 70 shops near the flyover.
The construction of these shops was completed a few months ago. These shops were inaugurated by Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan and Mayor Sampath Raj on October 9.
Surprisingly, not even a single shop has been occupied by any vendor. The irony is that each shop is given a number plate with Zameer Ahmed Khan’s photo thus indicating politics play a key role in allotting the shops to the beneficiaries.
According to Salim, a fruit seller, the new shops were constructed for footpath vendors but they could not take possession. “The heaps of garbage have become a nuisance for us. The shops are being allocated to those who have political clout,’’ Salim said.
According to a BBMP engineer, who wants to be anonymous, around 70 shops are ready to be occupied. “The BBMP has a plan to construct 60 more shops in the near future,’’ the he said.
Denying any irregularities in allocating the shops to the footpath vendors, KR Market ward corporator Nazim Khanam has said that the shops are being allotted to the beneficiaries free of cost. “The BBMP will collect a nominal rent from each vendor. There are many people here who thrive on spreading rumours. I want the public avoid giving credence to those people,’’ Khanam said.
Meanwhile, Usha, assistant revenue officer, KR Market has said the process of allocating the newly constructed shops is in progress.
“It will take some time to complete the process. As far as illegal footpath vendors are concerned, we have been trying to evict them but in vain. There are hundreds of illegal vendors inside the market. They continue to do business without paying any fee to the BBMP. They have political support,’’ Usha said.
Corruption
The vendors and business people at KR Market are fed up with the rampant corruption among the BBMP employees. It is alleged that some of the BBMP employees, in collusion with greedy elected representatives, have been trying to construct a few more shops on the KR Market premises.
There is a lot of demand for shops in the flower market area on the KR Market premises. It is believed that each shop commands a premium amount of Rs 5 lakh (goodwill to the BBMP authorities).
“Attempts were made to construct four to five shops near the staircase and other places meant for ventilation. It is believed that outgoing chairman of BBMP standing committee on markets gave the nod for the construction of the shops but later the plan was cancelled,’’ KR Market Traders’ Association president G.M. Diwakar said.
He blamed the BBMP authorities for neglecting the KR Market.
“We have been demanding drinking water facilities at the flower market for the last 12 years in vain. The BBMP authorities are more interested in making money than in providing basic amenities here,’’ he said.
On September 12 of this year, the BBMP Commissione issued an order banning the construction of shops on the KR Market premises.
“I came to know about some people planning to construct shops on the KR Market premises without permission. The vacant space is reserved for public convenience and certainly not for constructing shops. The BBMP has already submitted to the High Court that vacant space will not be utilized for commercial purposes,’’ the Commissioner said in the order.
