THE GARBAGE BUSINESS BBMP ALLOTS SHOPS ON GARBAGE POINT. TRADERS CRY FOUL 1st January 2011 Issue

     By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

1st January 2011 Issue

                                         THE GARBAGE BUSINESS

       BBMP ALLOTS SHOPS ON GARBAGE POINT. TRADERS CRY FOUL

BBMP’s garbage problem is well known to the residents of Bangalore. In fact, it has been so pathetic that the residents of Bengaluru are by now used to it and do not take it seriously. BBMP itself gives many clarifications to the garbage problem as excuses. The most common debatable point is that BBMP does not have enough garbage collection points and therefore people throw away garbage all around.

However, here is one case of BBMP’s astonishing deal which is evident of its corrupt practices. While on one hand BBMP complains of shortage of collection points, it has literally utilized one of the collection points for commercial undertaking.

The onus is on the city market complex. Mr. Nadeem Ahmed, aged 35 years has a shop in the upper floor of the complex. He has the allotment letter for shop no. 256 from BBMP on his name measuring around 4ft x 4ft and is also paying the tax punctually. According to Mr. Nadeem on one Friday night during the Dassera holidays, some people came there with two ready made boxes which can be used as a shop and erected it on the Garbage bin of the City Market complex. However, the shop keepers of the complex gathered and demolished it. Then again after a few days on one fine Sunday, the same two boxes were once again fixed on the Garbage bin. These time again they protested but were shown allotment letter issued by the BBMP’s Deputy Commissioner.

Mr. Nadeem adds that his shop number is 256 and the two additional shops that were erected on the garbage bin were issued numbers as 256A and 256B. These shops are issued to Srinath and Shivanna Gowda respectively and each measure about 8ft x 12.5ft.

However, Nadeem and his brother decided to fight out this illegal and corrupt functioning of the BBMP. They approached TBMR and as per the suggestion have filed a complaint with Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chairman of the BBMP Standing Committee and also the Corporator and finally the Lokayukta.

During the investigation, TBMR also discovered a recommendation letter for allotment of shop from Mr. Bachche Gowda, the Labour Minister, in favour of one Mr. Srinath.

TBMR called up Mr. Padmaraj, the Chairman of BBMP Standing Committee (Market) to enquire about the allotment. He told us that his Committee was formed later and the allotment order is issued by Commissioner, so, he is not responsible for the mess.  

TBMR also spoke to the DC Mr. Venkata Chalapathy who said that yes it was earlier a place to dump garbage measuring around 17x28, however, the citizens from the market complained them of the stink and so finally they removed the bin. After some time, the place was encroached and citizens again complained them about people sitting and doing business in that place without paying anything to the BBMP and that was also affecting their business. Therefore, they decided to allot the shop at the place which was earlier a garbage point. While the rate for allotment is only Rs. 9/= per sq ft for old shop keepers, they got an offer of Rs. 18/= per sq ft for this place. So the Commissioner allotted the same.

However, Mr. Nisar Ahmed, brother of Nadeem Ahmed told TBMR that “the Garbage stinking story is a complete lie. If any one had to complain about garbage stinking, it has to be us because our shops are immediate and adjacent to garbage bin. But we have never complained them about stinking”. Further, he explained that “if at all they had to allot shops on the bin, they could have offered it to us. Presently, our shops measure only 4 x 4 ft. Had they informed us we could have also paid them the price they received or rather a bit more than what they received”.

TBMR also spoke to the BBMP Commissioner Mr. Siddaiah who told us that he has asked his officers to relocate them. However he will find out with them; if the removal is necessary they will remove them or else they will continue.

TBMR also contacted the Corporator Mr. Ashwath Narayan. He said that the proposal letters for all the 4 shops were given before he became the Corporator. During that time Mr. Bharat Lal Meena was the Commissioner of BBMP, and it was pending. However, it was allotted after Mr. Siddaiah became the Commissioner of BBMP. He further added that he cannot comment on this as it has not happened during his period but before he became the Corporator.