Russell Market traders will get compensation ranging from Rs. 8,000 to a maximum of Rs. 50,000, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council decided in its meeting here on Wednesday.
Opposition Leader in the council M. Udayshankar and Janata Dal (Secular) Floor Leader Padmanabha Reddy had sought to know when the compensation would be disbursed to the traders whose shops were destroyed in last Saturday's fire.
They asked if it would be paid by the State Government or the BBMP.
The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs. 50,000.
However, the traders have suffered a loss ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 9.5 lakh. How will Rs. 50,000 suffice since the traders have lost their livelihood? they asked.
Markets' maintenance
Jayamahal councillor N.K. Gunashekar charged the BBMP with failure in its obligatory duty of maintaining the markets saying no funds had been kept aside for the purpose for several years. He suggested the BBMP seek funds from the Centre's Disaster Management Division to renovate the 85-year-old market.
Shivajinagar MLA Roshan Baig stressed the need for a broad-based policy on markets. “Markets have become white elephants for the BBMP. The rent has to be increased [realistically] each year and traders in must pay maintenance charges. Such accidents can be prevented if the markets are maintained properly.” In response, BBMP Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda said that the market was not a heritage structure though it was constructed in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. “For a building to be certified as heritage structure, it has to be at least 100 years old. Also, as per compensation guidelines, the traders should have been insured. None of them were. Yet we are giving the compensation on humanitarian grounds from the Natural Calamities Fund.”
The BBMP had asked an agency to certify if it was safe to take up renovation. The plan is to renovate the structure while retaining its façade. “The proposal is to have basement parking facility, ground and first floor. A special team will frame the detailed project report.”
When Mr. Gowda stated that the compensation amount would be based on the loss incurred by the traders, Mr. Baig said that the BBMP's response was not satisfactory and walked out of the Council. Mr. Udayshankar, Mr. Reddy and others wanted the compensation to be hiked to Rs. 1 lakh.
