Jayanagar market re-opens sans electricity

Jayanagar market re-opens sans electricity
Monday August 18 2008 04:02 IST

Sriram V | ENS

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BANGALORE: After waiting for two months for the government to take a decision to rehabilitate them, shop owners in Jayanagar market have started reopening their business, but with borrowed electricity. Narsimharaju, who opened his gift shop a week ago says: "How long can we sit at home and do nothing.

I have spent over Rs 75,000 on setting up my shop but we don't know what the government plans to do with us." This uncertainty and confusion is shared by most of his fellow shop owners who fear they might lose their shops if the government demolishes the existing market.

When asked about the plans for the market, BBMP officials refused to comment stating that the plans were still not finalised. The Chief Minister, who visited the market after the fire incident on July 14, had announced that the government would undertake reconstruction of the entire market, following which all the shops will be restored to their respective owners.

However, for now, most shop-owners are urging the Palike to restore power supply. Jayanagar Merchants Association secretary says: ''Most of them are borrowing electricity from shops around the market as the BBMP has stopped supplying power after the fire incident."

BBMP Additional Commissioner (South), Ramakrishna said electricity has not been provided to the shops as the building was found to be structurally weak after the fire. He said arrangements have been made to provide corridor lighting in the next few days and the Palike is considering a proposal to provide permanent electric connection costing over Rs 6 lakh.

Despite all their troubles, the traders are doing brisk business. Suresh Kumar says:

"Almost 90 per cent of the original shops are back in business and since it's the month of Shravana, most of them were doing good business."