Devraja Market: Heritage experts build a huge wall against demolition move

Mysuru: Members of the Heritage experts committee of the city have opposed a resolution of Mysuru City Corporation and the report by the state technical task force of the PWD department on demolition  and reconstruction of  the historic heritage structure, Devraja Market.

Merchants of Devraja Market have reportedly obtained a stay from the high court against the demolition of the structure. Meanwhile Mysuru City Corporation Superintendent Engineer Mr Suresh Babu when contacted, said that they were waiting to receive a copy of the stay order. They have also approached Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Financial Corporation for the detailed project report for construction of the new building of Devraja Market.  

Heritage expert Prof N.S. Rangaraju when contacted, said, “The technical task force committee of PWD has not consulted members of the Heritage experts committee of Mysuru. The 130-year-old Devraja Market in the heart of the city, which attracts as many  visitors as Mysuru Palace, has everything  one needs and dates back to the era of Chikkadevaraya Wadiyar.  While Chikkadevaraya Wadiyar started it as a fair, it was developed by Tipu Sultan and the 10th Chamaraja Wadiyar later and a full-fledged market was built during the reign of Sri Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. A horizontal market stretching half a km, with secular architecture in the Indo-Sarasenic style, it was built using neither iron nor cement but only lime mortar, bricks and wood, like other heritage buildings in the city. With 650 shops, the market has been the lifeline for more than 1000 merchants. Such a heritage structure should be restored, we are against reconstruction. It has to be restored with the same technology and material used in the old building,” he said.

Mysuru City Corporation  had taken up restoration of the market at a cost of Rs 8.8 crores during March this year but the work was stopped after a portion of it collapsed a month ago, Mr Rangraju said “The restoration work was taken up unscientifically, without properly studying the structure, which led to its collapse. It is more than six years since we (Heritage experts committee) gave a list of 237 heritage buildings in Mysuru. The heritage department shortlisted 201 buildings but they are yet to be declared heritage buildings. Had the authorities taken up proper maintenance, the building would not have seen this fate. Gol Gumbaz was also built with the same lime mortar, brick and wood and Archaeological Survey of India is maintaining it beautifully, why can’t they give the heritage tag to these structures and take up maintenance,” he wondered.