MYSORE: Even as the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) has decided to rebuild the dilapidated Devaraja Market structure after pulling it down, businessmen have threatened to close their establishments in the market area on December 13 seeking to protect the heritage building and implementation of their demands.

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, the Devaraja Market Traders' Association President Mahadevu said that the businessmen will close their establishments if their demands are not met before December 12. He said that the traders' body is opposed to the demolition of the structure, and instead the structure had to be restored.

While a memorandum will be submitted to Mayor Bharathi and MCC Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim on December 13, the traders will also sit on a dharna in front of the shops that have collapsed, on December 14, Mr. Mahadevu said.

Quoting reports of experts on the future of Devaraja Market, he said that there is no need to demolish the existing structure and build a new one. He said: "The experts of Torsteel Research Foundation and conservation architect Ravindra Gundu Rao have suggested restoration of the market by strengthening the structure, not its demolition."

Questioning the motives of the MCC authorities to demolish the heritage structure, he pointed out that heritage guidelines are expected to be notified by March 31, 2006 following which the MCC will lose its hold over the market structure. The heritage guidelines will make it mandatory on the part of MCC to consult the heritage task force and abide by its decisions. Hence, it is a ploy of the MCC authorities to demolish the structure before the guidelines come into effect, he alleged.

Among the demands of the traders, Mr. Mahadevu said, are immediate release of compensation to the traders whose shops have collapsed, transfer of rent payment rights to the traders who have taken from others and non-imposition of hefty advance being proposed.

Reiterating the businessmen's intention to pay the revised rent, he said that the traders' body is interested in finding an amicable solution to the problem.

He said: "The association wants the MCC to enter into a fresh rent agreement, and the revision of rent must take place once in two years at the rate of 10 per cent."

Mr. Mahadevu said that the MCC should also agree to undertake maintenance of the structure once in two years, and also initiate efforts to clear the debris from the roof once in two months besides taking precautionary measures.

Mr. Mahadevu said that the traders will intensify their struggle to protect the structure if the administration does not respond to their demands favourably.

Earlier, at a meeting of the association members on Monday, the traders criticised the decision of the MCC to issue eviction notices without providing alternative place for continuing their business.

The traders expressed their displeasure over the suggestion made by the MCC to the traders to look out for an alternative place during the period of reconstruction.

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