Maramma Circle gets a spotless makeover

By Anurati Nair

A collective effort cleanses and beautifies black spot, yet the battle against unhygienic behaviour persists

A black spot in Maramma Circle has received a complete makeover. This drive, organised over a span of ten days at a vacant parking area in Maramma Circle, was a collective initiative of the Malleswaram Social group, The Ugly Indian, and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Over the span of these ten days, the area was cleaned up, scaffoldings were constructed to barricade the place, after which tin sheets were put up. Throughout this whole process, BBMP marshals as well as citizens from the Malleshwaram Social group stayed on guard to prevent anyone from coming to the spot with the purpose of urinating. Volunteers from The Ugly Indian as well as the authorities helped revamp the place as well. After the tin sheets were put up and cemented, the entire length was painted in a simple mural design in an attempt to beautify the area and also further prevent people from using the place to urinate.

Vijaya Shenoy, a member of Malleswaram Social, said, “It’s sad how such public areas are being used for these purposes despite public toilets being there. It is a menace to society considering the unhygienic condition of the place, its dirty smell, and the inaccessibility to a public space. About 750 metres from this same spot in Maramma Circle, there is a public washroom which could be used by people; however, they choose to do such activities for their convenience. There is also another public toilet at a distance of one kilometre, yet this still happens.”