BANGALORE: While vendors in the city are making merry out of the roaring business on the eve of Ugadi on Thursday, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials are more worried about the garbage that will pile up on the festival day. Officials say heaps of garbage might result in accidental fire, Russell Market fire mishap being one example.
Chairman of the BBMP’s Standing Committee (Markets), Roopa Ramesh, said maintenance of markets and safety of citizens was their primary concern.
Deputy Commissioners have been directed to keep all the 152 markets under vigil. The three big markets under BBMP limits - KR Market, Kalasipalayam Market and Jayanagar Market- will be guarded by 10 security persons each, and a special team called ‘Novel Secretaries’ comprising 45 members will be on
rounds in all the markets and submit a report on the garbage and maintenance of markets.
“Our aim is to prevent fire mishaps at markets. After the fire in Russell market, I visited all the markets and directed the officials to be careful,” she said. However, the Merchant Association of K R Market alleged that BBMP was apathetic towards them.
“Hawkers throng markets during festivals, block roads, charge exorbitant rates and litter the place. Eventually, owners will be affected,” alleged Dastagir Khan, member of the association at K R Market.
He further maintained that the BBMP officials are hand-in-glove with hawkers.