The team comprising students, police and pourakarmikas headed by Circle inspector Ramesh began cleaning the premises soon after arriving at the market. As many as 150 NSS students from both pre-university and first grade colleges in the taluk de-weeded the market, levelled the pot holes with mud, arranged the unevenly parked vehicles and cleared the garbage dumped in the premises as well.
“The Shidlaghatta silk cocoon market which is the largest in the State generates income to the tune of lakhs of rupees. Despite the contract being awarded for Rs 31,000 every month towards maintenance of cleanliness in the market premises, a lot more needs to be desired,” said Circle inspector Ramesh.
The Shidlaghatta market is in a highly deplorable state. Earlier, vehicles were parked in a haphazard manner inside the market. However, now we are implementing the cleanliness programme with the voluntary help provided by the team comprising NSS students and the support extended by the Town Municipal Council (TMC), he added.
All the windows which were covered with silk threads have been cleaned with the help of gas burners. Dust bins have been placed throughout the premises to enable better handling of garbage. Pot holes that dotted the premises have been repaired, explained inspector Ramesh.
Also, efforts are underway to create awareness about maintaining cleanliness in the premises among farmers and other users of the market, he added.
Arrangement of food and beverages was made by the market authority for all those volunteering under the cleanliness drive. The TMC has helped the cleanliness campaign by providing tractors and staff. In the future sustained efforts will be directed towards maintenance of the market premises, said the newly-appointed in-charge deputy director Ratnaiah Shetty.
In Chikkaballapur
Eight members of the Kumudendu Maharshi Youth Organisation from Chikkaballapur taluk rendered voluntary help towards the cleanliness campaign, at the silk cocoon market in Shidlaghatta, on Wednesday.
“The silk market has its own committee to monitor the cleanliness and maintenance of the market and its premises. Farmers from distant places arrive at the market to sell their wares. Hence, there is a need to maintain clean environment at the premises,” explained District Sericulture Welfare Committee convenor Yallavalli Sonne Gowda.