In a late-night operation, the Mysore Palace Board, caretakers of the Mysuru Palace, on Sunday night cleared over 50-60 shops that abutted the area next to the Varaha Gate of the palace. The demolition was carried out in the presence of police.
Tourists enter the palace premises after buying tickets from the Varaha Gate (Southern portion of the palace).
As earth movers marched towards the gate to clear what the board officials described as unauthorised shops operating in the vicinity of the palace, shopkeepers staged a demonstration to resist the move.
However, the police resorted to mild caning in order to disperse them.
One of the main reasons for razing the shops was complaints from tourists, who complained that the traders pestered and fleeced them. Also, security had been another motive behind the action, according to board authorities.
Mysuru palace is one of the prized tourist attractions of the country and draws over 3.5 million tourists every year. It is an all-season tourist destination and is considered the mascot for Tourism Mysuru.
Palace Board officials said security for the palace had received top priority after a couple of inspections by teams of the National Security Guards (NSG). Being a key landmark with monumental value, the Board took the steps to step up security for the campus.
Board Deputy Director Subramanya told The Hindu that the Board had received complaints from tourists about shopkeepers selling fake artefacts outside the premises. “It’s our duty to protect the destination’s reputation as it attracts a huge number of tourists, including domestic and international ones. Moreover, we were instructed to safeguard the premises following the inspections by NSG commandoes,” he said.
However, the State government-run institutions have been allowed to operate their outlets inside the palace premises. “They sell genuine merchandise ,” he said.
‘No notice’
Meanwhile, the shopkeepers alleged that the action had been taken without issuing prior notice and sought relief to the loss incurred by them over the action. The protest led to tension in the area for sometime, but the police have been deployed in large numbers.
