Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister, Dr G Parameshwar, who paid a surprise visit to the K R Market Thursday morning, announced that it would be renovated and similar markets would be set up on Mysore Road, Tumkur Road and Hosur Road to cater to people in these areas.
"We plan to set up markets in other parts of the city to reduce the heavy footfall at the K R Market. A separate grant will be given for the project after discussion with the officials concerned," Dr Parameshwara promised. He was accompanied by Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjuna and police commissioner, Suneel Kumar among others.
Shocked at the condition of the K R market, Dr Parameshwar was even more livid on learning that several merchants had been running their businesses without paying rent to the BBMP and directed the officials present to immediately take action against them.
Although the market is equipped with a waste segregation centre, the Deputy Chief Minister found it closed and gave the officials a week to explain the reason for the shutdown and ensure proper garbage collection and segregation in its grounds.
Even before he could step into the fish market, the foul smell and uncleared animal waste irritated Dr Parameshwar, who sternly ordered the officials to clean the area.
Seeing a building that had been built exclusively for traders, lying vacant, he instructed the officials to make use of it and auction the many old and unused vehicles occupying space in the parking complex.
Dr Parameshwar reprimanded deputy commissioner, Munilaxmi when she could not tell him which department looked after the shops in the market and directed BBMP Commissioner, Manjunath Prasad to immediately suspend her for being so “irresponsible.”
