Unoccupied Rs 12 Crore Urwa Market Now a Haven for Alcoholics, Beggars & Stray Dogs?
Mangaluru : Here is a story of a market which was inaugurated beginning of 2019, but unfortunately still not open for business-you know why? Read further. The reason for the delay in function of this new market is that the process of allotment of stalls through auction is yet to be finalized. We are talking about the Rs 12 crore three-storey Urwa Market Complex, which was rebuilt by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), and which was inaugurated by then Urban Development minister U T Khader along with other Congress honchos and other district officials on 27 January 2019, and later SHUT due to some negotiations going on between MUDA and MCC
And in the meantime, the brand new Market is in a pathetic condition, with the car parking and the lower basement totally flooded, up to over the knee level water stranded. No doubt with this stranded water at various parts of the lower portion of this Market complex, will give scope for breeding of larvae into mosquitoes, thereby spreading the Dengue and Malaria diseases, amidst the spike of Covid-19 cases and deaths daily in Dakshina Kannada, including Mangaluru. A deep look into this market complex this morning ( 19 September), Team Mangalorean was surprise to see that bunch of alcohol bottles, empty liquor sachets/cartons, chewing tobacco wrappers, and also a few used condoms- so it looks like at night illegal activities are going on- and no one has given a thought to look at it.
Even though the entry to the Market complex is locked from the front side, and shops shutters are down, anyone can enter the basement which is wide open. The brand new elevator is not put into use. Sources reveal that there has been a theft of electrical and sanitary items of about Rs 50,000 plus. The building is so dark, anyone can use it for illegal activities like consuming alcohol, smoking ganja or indulge in sex activity. Seems like the hard earned money of taxpayers is simply been flushed down the drain?
As per sources, the market complex spans over nearly 85,000 sf ft area, having 122 stalls and has a parking space in the basement for nearly 75 cars and 40 two-wheelers. It also has space for 21 fish shacks, also stalls for mutton, pork, Beef, vegetables, fruits, flowers and premises for other business. In addition, the complex has an office space and a canteen. When the project was started in December 2016, the vendors doing business in the old market were shifted to a temporary market yard, and as of today, even in spite of the new market being ready last year, all these vendors are still continuing their business in the temporary place.
The foundation stone for the project was laid by then minister Ramanath Rai in December 2016. Now it is learnt that MUDA is in the process of opening the market- but no one knows when? But according to MLA Vedavyas Kamath, negotiations and final deal has been finalized between MUDA and MCC, so that the Market Complex, put into business soon- until then citizens have to keep their hands crossed until the deal is materialized. While DK /Mangaluru has seen over 500 cases of dengue cases, and 6-7 dengue related deaths, and nearly 200 suspected dengue cases last year, still the district administration and MCC has turned a blind eye towards the gallons of stranded water in the lower portion of this market complex.
The residents of this area have to be very cautious about this, and take prevention from being affected with Dengue. And to wash their hands, the MCC Commissioner and other officials will come up with a statement that no larvae or breeding of mosquitoes was found at the new Urwa market. Bah humbug! So until, new Urwa market opens, it’s business as usual for the customers at the temporary market yard. And meantime it will be a Happy breeding spot for the millions of mosquitoes in the basement of the new market ? Have a Happy shopping spree at the Old Market?
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ALSO READ RELATED ARTICLES :
Inaugurated but Shut Rs 12 Cr Urwa Market is Now a Breeding Place for Mosquitoes?
Launched but Shut? Urwa Market Inaugurated in Jan 2019 Still Not Open for Business
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