Tarikere is popularly called the gateway for Malnad region and has a population of 40,000. But the town still lacks a full-fledged vegetable market.

The Town Municipality’s vegetable market, which was near Vinayak theatre on B H Road, was shifted with an intention to build a new private bus stand. Traders were convinced to shift their shops with a promise that the new market will be set up in the land available behind the new private bus shelter. Following the promise, the traders agreed to shift and made make-shift arrangements for their trade near the school in B H Road. Mescom provided electricity connection to these make-shift sheds on humanitarian ground.

It has been four years since the new private bus shelter was inaugurated, but the vegetable market has not been built. Though the Town Municipal Council had recently planned to build four to five commercial shops near the bus stand and hand them over to vegetable vendors, the TMC changed its decision, apparently due to some powerful lobby. The TMC’s decision to convert the proposed vegetable market into meat stalls has angered citizens and vegetable traders.

While the vegetable vendors are annoyed with the authorities failing to abide by their promises, the civilians are expressing displeasure over the TMC for not building the full-fledged vegetable market.

When the TMC has made suitable arrangements for chicken and meat stalls in five places in the town, the civilians question as to why the vegetable market could not be built.

Meat stall irks

Area near the private bus shelter where the TMC is planning a few meat stalls is in a locality with residential houses and government offices. Many feel that it would cause problems to the residents and passersby due to stink that emanates from the stalls. Moreover, the make-shift vegetable market near the school is in a crammed area causing problems to the customers. Lack of parking space too has added to the problem. Children of the nearby school too find it hard to walk in this lane due to vehicle movement and haphazard parking.
 
Speaking to Deccan Herald, a resident Srinivas Shreshty felt that meats stalls would affect the hygiene of the locality. The Town Municipal Council should set up the vegetable market here.