The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Repair works at Devaraja Market yet to begin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 17, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Repair works at Devaraja Market yet to begin

Special Correspondent

Mayor's deadline for first phase of works ended on Wednesday

MYSORE: The much-touted repair works at the Devaraja Market in the city have failed to take off, contrary to the promise made by the Mayor Dakshinamurthy, who had said that the first phase would be ready by June 15.

Mr. Dakshinamurthy paid a "surprise visit" to the market on May 25.

A spot inspection was followed by an impromptu press conference, where the Mayor announced that the Devaraja Market will be restored to its former glory in due course and short-term repair works will be taken up from the next day.

It was also announced that the tenants in the market will be permitted to repair the interiors of their shops at their own cost.

However, a visit to the market and interaction with the vendors proved that nothing had been done over the past three weeks.

`Yet to be fulfilled'

"We also read in the local papers about the Mayor's promise, but it is yet to be fulfilled," a vegetable vendor at the market said.

Heaps of garbage continue to pile up and there is no respite from the flies and the stench.

"We have seen enough of such gimmicks. Today it was him, tomorrow it will be somebody else. Things do not change easily," a few vendors said.

While a few were reluctant to speak in the absence of their union leader, a few others were forthcoming.

"We have not received any permission from the authorities to take up repair works at our own cost, though the Mayor did make such an announcement," a fruit vendor said pointing towards the crumbling walls of the heritage structure. When contacted, the Mayor maintained that the work on clearing the clogged drainage was taken up every night.

"Any repair and maintenance work, if taken up during the day, will affect business transaction and be nuisance to the public. Hence, the drainage is cleared only in the night. The work will be completed in another three days," he said.

Denied

However, the local vendors denied any knowledge of the work in progress.

When questioned about the delay in issuing permission for the vendors to take up repair works, Mr. Dakshinamurthy expressed helplessness and said,

"What can I do if the vendors' union fails to submit the applications. It is only then that I can process them," he said.

However, the Mayor averred that the historic Devaraja Market will be restored to its past glory.

"Estimates for the construction of a permanent overhead shelter have been submitted to the Government," he said.

The outer façade of the heritage structure is in a bad shape and is on the verge of collapse. They are part of the long-term restoration works, the Mayor said.

Once a model market place known for its discipline and cleanliness, the Devaraja Market today is a quagmire of garbage and sewage.

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