BENGALURU: In a shocker, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday admitted that buildings in the iconic KR Market didn’t have the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire services department.This, in other words, means the oldest and busiest market in the city poses a major fire risk to shopkeepers and visitors. Miffed by the civic agency’s callous approach, the Karnataka high court warned of the market’s shutdown if important safety measures suggested by the fire services department are not fully complied with in the next two weeks.Recalling a recent fire incident in Hubballi, a division bench headed by acting chief justice L Narayana Swamy said if an untoward incident occurs resulting in loss of life and property in BBMP markets, Palike commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad and other officials would be prosecuted by the court. The bench also directed the BBMP to remove any structure which is not in keeping with the sanction plan.However, since the market’s closure would affect the lives of daily-wagers, the court refrained from issuing any closure order and instead directed the commissioner to submit a status report by next week on the measures taken.Earlier, when it was mentioned that the BBMP hasn’t obtained NOC from the fire department and hasn’t implemented 18 other measures, the court was taken aback and immediately took the commissioner to task.“Not obtained an NOC? Then how can you allow the buildings to function and market to operate? We will direct it to be closed. Tomorrow, if an incident like the one in Hubballi takes place, can you bring back people’s lives? It’s not officers or corporators who will die, but only the poor and common people. You (BBMP) are only taking chances,” the bench said while reprimanding the agency.The bench said the fire department’s report suggests that roads abutting the market are occupied by hawkers and setback areas by metal sheet stretchers and other combustible materials like plastic and bamboo for selling fruits, flowers and household items, which is very dangerous. Electrical ducts are not sealed.“In summer, plastic is like petrol,” Justice Swamy said while directing both the BBMP chief and senior fire department officials to visit the market immediately and take suitable steps for granting of NOC.Prasad replied that they have engaged a project management consultant and taken up a Rs 50 crore project to put in place a firefighting mechanism, of which Rs 2.7 crore would be spent on procuring firefighting equipment and 1,800 sprinklers.He however, added the procurement may take time as tenders have to be invited. The hearing has been adjourned to April 3. The court is hearing a PIL filed by the flower merchants’ association, which has claimed that 50-odd shops are being constructed along public passage spaces and fire exit areas.Krishnarajendra Market, popularly known as KR Market, is the busiest wholesale market in the city. It was built almost a century ago, in the early 1920s. However, with it becoming congested, a new three storeyed market complex was built in the early 1990s. In the new building, the underground space is earmarked for parking and the three floors are predominantly occupied by flower and vegetable sellers. It’s also considered one of the biggest flower markets in Asia.

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