Palike may lease out KR Market dumping yard for commercial use

The only dumping place inside the new KR Market Complex may cease to exist as Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials are planning to rent out the space for commercial use.

The open space measuring 10x15 sq ft, located inside the flower market next to shop number 9, has been taking the entire market waste since 1998.

As per High Court directions given to BBMP in 2002, the civic body should not allot any shops in open space at the KR Market premises, traders claimed. The Palike is allegedly violating the order  by trying to sell this space, they said.

Traders rued that tenders have not been called by the Palike for renting out space and that the allotment will be illegal.

“We have written to Commissioner M Lakshminarayana, Governor H R Bhardwaj and Lokayukta, requesting them to protect this dumping yard and not to let it out. If rented out, where will we put the waste?,” wondered KR Market Flower Merchants’ Association Vice-President Anand Kumar.

Every day four to five tonnes of waste is dumped which is later picked up by BBMP at the vacant space. It is not the first time that the civic agency has eyed the open space.

Association President G M Diwakar said there was another dumping yard inside the market premises but that too was rented out, last year.

This is the only ventilation space and the site is worth Rs one crore. Why cannot the Palike utilise the second floor of the market complex lying vacant for more than 10 years. We will hold a protest against the Palike for violating the High Court rules and illegally trying to encroach the dumpyard space, he said.

BBMP Standing Committee for Markets’ Chairman Y Gowramma said Palike officials have to take permission from the committee before renting out any space inside the market premises.

“The dumping yard cannot be rented out at as it is illegal and against court directions. I will inspect the place and take up the matter,” she said.