In what felt like a massive-clean-up operation, it took three hours,
500 students, 150 pourakarmikas and gangmen, 60 tipper autorickshaws and
20 garbage lorries to transform the normally filthy K R Market into a
cleaner place.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike took the
initiative to clean the market on Monday. As many as 500 students from
Acharya Pathashala Education institution participated in the job that
was done between 9 am and 12 noon. There were 25 committees; each team
had 20 students, a few pourakarmikas and gangmen. The BBMP had given
each worker a pair of gloves, pickaxe and spade. Some people swept the
market premises, while others transported the waste.
Speaking to
Express, Mayor B S Sathyanarayana said that on normal days, on an
average, one lakh people visit the market. “People who come here often
curse the BBMP. We want to make more people visit our market. We will
take up a cleaning drive every Monday.”
The plan is to clean K R
market for the next eight weeks. “Next Monday, students from Sri Krishna
International College and PES Education society will join us. After
eight weeks, we shall take up other BBMP markets like Russell and
Yeshwantpur markets,” he added.
The mayor, however, admitted that the waste they were successful in cleaning was still mixed and not segregated, as is mandated.
“We
are keen on sending wet waste to goshalas. Once our discussions with
them are done, we shall send greens and vegetable waste to the goshalas
as well,” he said.
The mayor is also keen on providing basic
amenities at the markets. “If we just clean them, people will not come.
We need to give adequate facilities like toilets and drinking water for
vendors as well as the public at markets. I have called for a meeting
with various vendors association members, BBMP officials and other
authorities concerned on Saturday, and a meeting will be conducted at
the market building. We will hear their demands too,” he said.
Bangalore Urban District in-charge minister R Ramalinga Reddy appreciated the initiative.
He
appealed to the vendors to maintain the cleanliness of the market
everyday. Bangalore South MP Ananthakumar and Deputy Commissioner
(Market) Nagarajaiah were present.
