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.