Bengaluru: Mantri Square mall, Malleshwaram has been shut down by the BBMP since last one week after withdrawing its Occupancy Certificate (OC). Decision to withdraw the OC was taken after a portion of wall of the mall caved in due to water leakage, making way for verbal dual between the various stake holders over accountability. Due to stiff resistance from the general public Mall may not be opened for next few weeks as the BBMP is awaiting report from experts on the feasibility of re-opening the mall.

Whatever may be the scenes, the wall of the mall collapsed leaving behind several families in lurch. These are the families of the persons who were employed in the mall.

Speaking to this reporter several women employees expressed their helplessness after the shutters were pulled down on their only source of livelihood.

The shops and franchises inside the mall have employed women employees. Their strength is up to 90 per cent of the total workforce of the mall. Despite these employees being on regular pay scale, the companies have been denying salary for the days the Mall has remained shut. Many employees have been forced to take leave on ‘Loss of Pay’ basis, said an insider.

One of the employees told newskarnataka that she was due to pay her daughter’s examination fee and this unwarranted tragedy in her work front has left her clueless.

Another women employee said no one is giving assurance about reopening. “We don’t know about our future. We don’t know who is right who is wrong. But it is the working class which is paying heavy price” she said.

However, the residents of Malleshwaram are now breathing easy as the mall closure has eased traffic congestion in the whole area.

While the Malleshwaram residents enjoy the traffic snarl-free days, somewhere a section weeps over its empty wallets!