Looks like the BBMP is considering a proposal to involve vendors in keeping markets in the city clean. This was revealed by Mayor B S Sathyanarayana on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters at a Meet the Press programme organised by Bangalore Reporters’ Guild, he said that BBMP is getting `13,000 to `15,000 from parking in K R Market everyday.
“Some merchant association members have approached me and said they would like to maintain parking. They have said that they will pay `20,000 per day to BBMP and also maintain toilets and drinking water facilities. This looks like a good option as the BBMP will get revenue. We are discussing whether the Palike can sign a MoU with them,” he said.
Defending his decision to take the help of students in cleaning markets, the Mayor said that the BBMP was trying to create awareness among vendors through students. “I had called a meeting with various associations in K R Market and urged them to keep the premises clean. Flower Merchants Association is now distributing dustbins to members to throw flower waste. This will avoid littering,” he said.
“After seeing students cleaning their premises, some of the vendors said they don’t want students to come to clean it, they will do it themselves,” he said. Everyday, 25 tonnes of waste is generated at K R Market alone.
The Mayor said in the new market building, as many as one lakh square feet of space is lying vacant in first and second floor. There is no provision made to enter these floors from outside.
“We have now designed a ramp where the public can enter those floors from outside. We shall give this space for rent,” he said. The BBMP has to collect `2 crore arrears from vendors, of which they have collected `32 lakh in the last few weeks. On public toilets, the Mayor said that most of the public toilets in city were built by Infosys Foundation. “We are not getting people to maintain those toilets. If two pourakarmikas each are given the responsibility of maintaining the toilets in two shifts- 6 am to 2 pm and 2 pm to 10 pm- they will get additional revenue of `300 per shift,” he stated.
On dividing BBMP, the Mayor said they will conduct a special meeting to discuss on bifurcation or trifurcation of BBMP. “This has to be discussed in the Council and then the proposal will be sent to the government,” he said.
Parking Fee after Council Debate
Stressing on parking fee, the Mayor said people have opposed the fee structure. “We shall bring the issue to Council after three months. Till then, we shall not implement the parking fee,” he said. The Mayor added that he was against charging of parking fee on hourly basis.