Farmers and merchants running the open-air guava mandi at KR Market are facing threats of eviction by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
According to a few merchants, the mandi was allotted by the Palike to guava growers for them to auction their produce. “But the Palike is now thinking of constructing shops here.
BBMP Commissioner Lakshminarayana and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday visited us and made enquiries about the mandi. But we will not vacate the space at any cost,” said R K Gopalakrishna, a guava merchant. Farmers from places like Doddaballapur, Dibbur and Devanahalli arrive with their produce at the mandi as early as 3 am. Their guavas are sold out by 11 am. “Over 100 farmers come to the mandi during the guava season. During the lean season, only 25 farmers auction their produce. For each bag of guavas we sell, we pay Rs five as rent to the BBMP,” another merchant said.
Minister Reddy told Deccan Herald that he has asked for the mandi allotment papers from the guava merchants. “We are thinking of shifting the legal tenants of the market to the mandi. Fruit sellers must actually be relocated to the Hosur fruit market,” he said.
Palike Commissioner M Lakshminaryana and Mayor B S Satyanarayana were unavailable for comments.
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