BANGALORE: Russell Market traders who went ahead with their plan to renovate damaged structures after the recent fire, allege that Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has failed to supply power to them and none of the elected representative, who made tall claims earlier, came to help them and get the fitness certificate from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
“We wanted to throw the market open within a weeks time but because of the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities, work is now going at snail’s pace,” said Mohammed Idris Choudry, Traders Association General Secretary.
BESCOM Assistant Executive Engineer, Basavaraju said, “We have asked the traders to furnish the fitness certificate in order to obtain power supply.” To this, Mohammed said, “The engineer hired by the traders will issue a fitness certificate which will be produced to concerned authority in various civic agencies for further help.”
Confirming the report handed by third party inspection body, Civil Aid Techno Clinic Private Limited to BBMP special committee, which was looking into the fire mishap, K R Niranjan, Special commissioner for projects and finance said, “We have got the details but it has to be tabled before the Market Standing Committee Chairman and BBMP Commissioner. We will be forwarding it on Monday”.
However the Chairman to Standing Committee for Markets, Roopa Ramesh claimed that post the fire incident, none of the officials have contacted her on the development taking place in the Russell market.
“I have not been briefed by concerned officials on the matter. I will call for a meeting on Monday. We had earlier issued a direction to traders not to go on their own in terms of renovation because it will have other complications.” Mohammed added that they got Rs 33 lakh as compensation for renovation, but so far the cost has come to Rs 90 lakh.
“We have only managed to finish the renovation work on ground floor,” he said.
Traders are however happy that the iron pillars, which were taken for inspection and certification of fitness, were found to be of good quality. This came as a relief at a time when rumours were going around about the civic body’s plan to make a Shopping Complex at the cost of Rs 450 crore on PPP model by giving way to existing market.