Check if fire tenders can reach KR Market easily: HC

The High Court of Karnataka has ordered the fire brigade to inspect KR Market which was cleared of encroachments last week and submit a report on whether fire tenders reach there easily in case of a fire.

The court is hearing a petition by the flower merchants' association and others against shops located in public passage and fire exit areas of the market. The petitioners argued that the market was so congested it had disrupted the airflow and could cause fire accidents.

Following a court order, the BBMP had removed hundreds of encroachments and unauthorised shops from the market last week.

On Wednesday, the civic body submitted a status report to the court, stating that the passages of KR Market are now fully cleared of encroachments, including illegal extensions by shops. Furthermore, a radius of eight metres around the market building has been cleared to ensure the free movement of firefighting vehicles. All encroachments on roads in and around market have been fully removed, too, the BBMP told the court.

The petitioners, however, claimed that not all illegal shops had not been removed as was ordered by the court. The BBMP replied that some shops were not demolished as their owners had obtained stay orders from courts.

The high court will hear the matter again on April 9.