BANGALORE: To say that the Gangenahalli market place is filthy and lacks basic amenities, is surely an understatement of the situation on the ground. Positioned just beside the Income Tax Office (HMT Bhavan) on Bellary Road, the market place spread over an area of approximately 4,000 sq ft is craving for attention since six years now.The situation is precarious and one can see filth competing comfortably with the shops at almost every available space of the market place. Housing 35 shops and acting as the source of bread and butter for over 50 families, the vegetable and fruit market is undoubtedly in a sorry state of affairs.Dug-up mud road, no water supply, unavailability of toilet space and a shoddy arrangement done for the shelter gives the market place a slum like appearance.Devoid of securityThe shops at the exposition have asbestos roof which quite visibly is unable to provide shelter to the sellers. Vendors are using torn old sacks or some polythene material to cover them and protect them from rain and sun. With such sleazy arrangement done, a proper security seems to be a far cry. Although the vendors decry the situation, it is visible that pleas are falling on deaf ears. “The market place is an open house to all and we have no proper roof, let alone security measures. We reached out to the area corporator, but everybody seems to be least bothered about our problems,” said Ramesh, a flower merchant at the market.No toilet for the feteThe sanitary situation at the Gangenahalli market has a separate story to narrate. It is unfortunate, but the plain truth is that the market place has no toilet of its own. The situation is worse for female vendors but they have no other go. “We were shifted to this place six years ago, but a toilet space was never provided. It becomes very difficult for us as we come here from far off places to earn our daily bread,” said Rajni, a vegetable vendor at the Gangenahalli market place. Aching for precious dropsThe fete also lacks water supply and vendors are left with no other option than to buy water for their daily use. “Although the authorities set up a boring pipe for water supply, it all goes to the adjacent colony and not a single drop is diverted for the market area. We have no water, no proper roof and no toilet space. How are we suppose to survive in a situation like this?,” quizzed Nirmalamma, a vendor at the market place.Filthy appearanceMaking the situation deplorable further, the mud road was dug-up by the BWSSB a month ago to lay water pipes, but apparently they missed on levelling it back. The implication of the garbage-infested environment is indeed frightening. Garbage mixed with mud and rain playing its role further, has created a mess at the market place. The stench is terrible and a sloppy appearance of the market acts as a repulsive force to the customers.“As the market has no parking area and proper road to walk, people hardly come here. Out of the 35 shops created by the corporation, only 15 of them have been taken up as vendors are reluctant to shift their business here,” said Rajni. Shop owners are also worried about the health implications looking at the unhygienic condition. But the area corporator is finding it hard to locate the problems being faced by the vendors. Even after six years gone by, the authorities are still in stage of planning as far as providing a toilet space is concerned. “We are planning to construct a toilet and it should be up within two to three months. I will see to it that the market place gets water within next few days,” said M Nagaraja, corporator. He also agrees that the market gets very less footfall due to the lack of a parking space. When City Express spoke to him regarding the dug-up road, Nagraj said, “The road was dug-up by the BWSSB a month ago. Despite my regular enquiry about the work, no action has been taken on their part.” BWSSB officials remained unavailable for comment.
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