Mysuru: Over more than 10,000 families, directly or indirectly are dependent on Devaraja Market for their livelihood. Pall of gloom engulfs the families as the thick cloud of demolition of this century old structure looms large.
Pailwan Mahadev, President of Devaraja Market Traders Association says that there are 1122 shops in the market and 822 of them pay monthly rent while 300 of them pay rent on daily basis. In each shop, minimum three to four people are employed. Apart from this, many people are depended on this market for their livelihood. More than 3000 people purchase vegetables from this market and sell in their respective places. Every day nearly 8000 to 10,000 people visit the market. Among 1122 shops, just 180 shops are in outer peripheral and have some issues while rest of the 900 shops are inside the building where they have no problem at all. Hence keeping all this in mind the authorities should take proper decision in restoring the building.
    
“There is something fishy about the collapse of the building. How can one take video of the building when it is collapsing? When they are taking up renovation work, how they can demolish 8 shops. Intentionally they have used drilling machines due to which the building has collapsed,” he says expressing apprehension over the what has happened.
    
He says that most of the traders at the market do not want the building to be pulled down, but on the contrary want it to be renovated. “The authorities before taking any decision should consult us so that we can give our opinion,” added Mahadev. Surprisingly the district administration has not invited them for the meeting which is scheduled on September 1. The shop keepers also mention that some of the elected representatives are targeting this place and hence want it to be demolished.

Devaraja Market is the oldest Market in Mysuru
    
The market complex had earlier witnessed three major fires that destroyed several shops. A total of 150 shops were destroyed in 1981 fire; 175 shops in 1990 fire and 30 shops gutted in 1999 fire. With hardly any maintenance work taken up by the corporation authorities the building had become weak at various places.

Experts from Chennai to visit Devaraja and Lansdowne building
    
The experts from Chennai will be visiting both the places and once they give their feedback whether to continue with restoration or to demolish, government will take decision. They will be visiting these places in a day or two.