Bengaluru’s once famous Johnson Market has not seen any repairs since its inception in 1929. It hasn’t even received a coat of paint in 25 years. If this is the condition of Johnson Market, the situation is no different at KR Market, built in 1928, and Russell Market, built in 1927. The recent tragedy at Johnson Market was only waiting to happen, writes Aknisree Karthik
Only a couple of weeks ago, on May 14, a wall in the city’s decades old Johnson Market collapsed in rain, killing an innocent bystander, a 10-year-old boy, who tried to warn an autorickshaw driver dropping a passenger about the impending danger, only to lose his own life in the accident. The unfortunate driver too was buried under the debris before he could get away.
With hardly any repairs carried out at the 86- year-old market located in a narrow bylane between Richmond Town and Hosur Road, in recent years, the accident did not surprise many. In fact, the market built in 1929, hasn’t even received a coat of paint in 25 years, going by the shopkeepers , who have been doing business here for decades. If this is the condition of the youngest of Bengaluru’s three famous heritage markets, the situation is no better at the K R Market, built a year earlier in 1928 and Russell Market, built in 1927.
Says a trader, Syed Sayeeduddin, who runs a provisional store in Johnson Market, "Our family has been doing business here for over 60 years, right from the time of my grandfather. In all, there are over 70 stalls in the market and all these families are dependent on the trade for their survival. But it's been over 25 years since the market was even white-washed!”
Pointing out that the state government has in its budgets for 2016-17 and 2017-18 promised to renovate all three heritage markets, Johnson, K R Market and Russell Market, he laments that it has not kept its promise to date.
K R Market
The trader believes the building constructed during the British era is structurally strong, and only needs some renovation and repair to restore it to its former self.
If the Johnson Market is dingy and need of repair, the K R Market or Krishna Rajendra Market, named after a former Mysuru Maharaja, Krishna Rajendra Wodeyar, is filthy. Located in crowded Kalasipalyam, near Tipu Sultan’s summer palace, it’s condition is pathetic.
Loudly complaining about the filth, the traders here are waiting for the promised makeover by the government. Says a fruit merchant, Sathya Lazaras, “I have been into the fruit business since childhood. The market, which was known for its cleanliness when I was young, is today so filthy that people, who come here need to cover their nose.”
The building too needs serious attention as its walls have developed cracks and leaks, according to him. “The government must wake up and renovate the structure with the help of experts so I can show off this heritage structure with pride to my children and grandchildren,” he adds.
Russell Market
Things are no better at Russell Market in busy Shivajinagar, leaving the merchants fed up with the conditions in this famous landmark of the city built by the British and named after then Municipal commissioner, T B Russell. Pointing out that after many promises, the latest BBMP budget has set aside '3 crore for the renovation and maintenance of markets and historical buildings in the city, Mr Mohammad Aziz, a dry fruit merchant in the market, pertinently asks, “What are they waiting for? Will they simply make the same announcement in the next budget too ?”
‘We don’t need a law to preserve our city’s heritage, we only need political will and desire’
“The death of two innocent people in the recent wall collapse at Johnson Market shows just how careless the government is in conserving heritage structures. Had the market been renovated, the unfortunate accident could have been averted,” says urban expert, R K Misra.
He also regrets that the report, Plan Bengaluru 2020, of the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development Task Force (ABIDE) calling for a heritage policy for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region to preserve its historical monuments not covered by the Archaeological Survey of India, is gathering dust although submitted to the government long ago.
Neither the previous government which constituted ABIDE, nor the present seems to care about its recommendations, he regrets.
“Every city preserves its heritage, but the state government is so overwhelmed with the issues of garbage, sewage and potholes that it has forgotten the heritage structures of Bengaluru. You don’t need a law or policy to conserve the city’s heritage, only political will and desire. If they are absent no law can help," he adds.
But urbanist and architect, Naresh Narasimhan, who believes there are around 500 heritage structures in the city, is keen on the government passing the protection of heritage structure Bill pending before the cabinet secretariat.
“Once the bill is passed and procedures are notified, a commissioner should be appointed and a list of heritage buildings prepared. Action should then be taken to preserve them,” he emphasises, lamenting that the state government isn't showing any great interest in the issue .
Pointing out that there are many living heritage buildings, which are not in the registry of the Archaeological Survey of India or in that of the state Archaeological Department, member of the Citizens' Action Forum, N S Mukunda believes these structures are the ones under threat. “The monuments in the ASI registry are protected by the Historical Monuments Preservation Act, but others not included in the list are neglected,” he rues.
