Lament BMC for handing a stepmotherly treatment, not providing facilities
BHOPAL: The traders running their commercial establishments in the centrally located GTB Complex, which has largely been neglected by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), said they just want the premises to be cleaned up rather than being washed under Mera Pran: Bhopal No -1 campaign. The complex, the first “Open Mall” centrally located in the state capital, has a lot of problems.
The businessmen are facing the brunt of the alleged stepmotherly treatment handed by the BMC, which ruthlessly collects taxes but does not provide any facility as the complex has not been fully transferred to BMC from MP Housing Board. The complex came up in 1977. There is a parking lot in the GTB Complex but 90 per cent cars are parked here by outsiders. New Market traders park their cars. It is bone of contention between local traders and outsiders.
Sanjiv Agrawal, Jeweller
“Regular cleaning rather than washing is very necessary to keep the ambience neat and clean. Only washing will block the garbage in corners and create water logging at various places.”
Komal Dey, salesperson at Bombay Dying Store
“Outsiders park their cars and block the way of customers, incurring loss to us. But we are helpless. Drunkards take the advantage of darkness as street light are switched on only whenever there a Kavi-Sammelan is organised.”
SP Chaturvedi, ex-librarian of British Library
“Washing is not needed. Only cleaning and regular collection of garbage is sufficient in GTB Complex. Washing will damage the road on the premises and create waterlogging at various places.”
Vinod Pranavi, Punjab Boot owner
“Washing does not serve the purpose. It is wastage of water. BMC fail to collect garbage so it should first ensure regular removal of garbage. Regular cleaning is itself sufficient.”
SP Wadhwa, owner of Varity Book House
“We prefer cleaning the market twice everyday rather than washing. It is wastage of energy and time by BMC administration. We personally hire the man to clean the front of our shops otherwise, no BMC staff visit here to clean.”
Rajendra Upadhyaya, customer
“It is a good decision made by the BMC administration. But without cleaning the premises, washing alone is not justified.”
Moti Sewanani, Bombay Dyeing Store owner
“We pay tax but in spite of it, BMC straight forwardly say that the complex has not been fully transferred from MP Housing Board to BMC so it can not provide any facility. Street lights remain out of order. Drunkards take the advantage of it and use our complex. Mostly outsiders park their vehicles in our GTB Complex.”
