Devaraja Market tenants to march to Mysuru DC’s office over demolition

Devaraja Market Tenants’ Association president Mahadev told The Hindu that the procession will be led by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru

Taking strong exception to a proposal to demolish Devaraja Market in Mysuru, shopkeepers in the more-than-century-old building will down their shutters on April 20 and march to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Though the Devaraja Market Tenants’ Association had given a call for a demonstration near Dufferin Clock Tower in front of the south entrance of Devaraja Market on April 19, the protest was called off. Instead, a decision was taken to march to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office on April 20 after closing down shops during the morning session.

Association president Mahadev told The Hindu that the procession will be led by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru, who had publicly opposed any move to demolish the heritage structure. His mother Pramoda Devi too had opposed demolition of Devaraja Market as well as Lansdowne building.

All the tenants have been asked to close their shops in the morning and assembly in front of the clock tower at 9.30 a.m.

About 800 shopkeepers paying monthly rent to the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and another 250 vendors carrying out business by paying daily rent have been asked to join the protest. The shopkeepers will open their shops after returning from the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

“We will march to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submit a memorandum urging the Karnataka Government to drop any proposal to demolish the heritage structure and instead take up efforts to conserve the building,” he said.

Contending that Devaraja Market, which is reckoned to be around 125 years old, is strong enough to last for a few more decades, Mr Mahadev suspected a conspiracy by elected representatives to demolish the heritage structure.