JOIN USA shop allotted to the Milk Producers Association at the corner of the KR Market on the pavement has raised many eyebrows.
During the continuous holidays last week starting from Saturday to Monday, a steel structure came up on the pavement in front of the KR Market. The shop at the turning of the Mysore Road-Avenue Road took people by surprise.
On digging more, it came to light that the space has been allotted by the BBMP to the Confederation of the Bangalore Urban, Rural and Ramanagara Milk Producers' Association. The allotment is for three years at a monthly rent of Rs 5,000.
A social activist Shivaramanna who has lodged a complaint with the BBMP Public Relations Cell alleging encroachment of pavement, said the structure came up suddenly due to the apathy of the BBMP.
“Already the pavements are getting narrowed. Permissions for such structures on the pavement reduces the walking space for the pedestrians,” Shivaramanna rued.
The local corporator, G A Ashwath Narayana, was also not told about the structure that cropped on the busy pavement. Later he was told that the place has been allotted to the 'Bangalore Dairy.'
Ashwath Narayana said: “ It's nothing but encroachment of pavement. This allotment was made by the Assistant Executive Engineer of the area, G D Jayarama. I have asked the BBMP engineers to remove it.”
When contacted Jayarama said he had only followed the instructions, while the permissions were given by the Urban Development Department, BBMP Commissioner, BBMP’s Taxation and Finance Standing Committee and Town Planning Standing Committee.