Deccan Herald: Mysuru: Thursday,
May 05, 2016.
Eco-activists,
in the city, opined that Chief Minister Siddaramiah’s vision for Mysuru and his
government’s actions don’t match.
R
Chandra Prakash, president of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), said, while
laying the foundation stone for development works atop the Chamundi Hill,
Siddaramaiah is quoted as saying, “Mysuru, known for its heritage, should be
developed as the best planned city, retaining its character and beauty”.
“Mysureans
should be grateful to the chief minister for his intention. However, the
actions of his government do not substantiate his intent. As per the
information received under RTI Act, an outlay of Rs 79.94 cr has been earmarked
for the construction a multi-level parking lot, queuing bays, guest house, VIP
guest house, dormitories, shopping complex, four toilets each for men and
women, administrative block, dashoha bhavana, administrative block for shopping
complex, bus station, and roads, for which the CM laid the foundation,” said
Prakash.
As
the foot of the Chamundi Hill is already occupied by various religious
institutions and builders, it is obvious that the action of the government and
the intention of the CM do not converge, with the proposed four-laning of the
road leading to the hill and the proposed environmentally unfriendly
constructions, the MGP activist said.
After
great struggle by MGP and local residents, Principal Secretary for PWD Nagpal
and NHAI authorities were convinced of the destructive effects of NH 212
passing through Lalithamahal Road. So, they agreed to declare the newly formed
outer ring road (ORR) behind the hill as the NH 212. But, PWD Minister Dr H C
Mahadevappa is hell bent upon converting this heritage road into four lanes,
Prakash added.
The
heritage of Mysuru is concentrated in and around the Palace. The Town Hall has
been destroyed with the construction of a multi-level parking lot and building
of one more dome for yet another statue; Makkaji Chowk has been razed down for
a private mall at KR Circle; the Hardinge Circle fountain has been brought down
to accommodate yet another statue, gaudy works are under progress on the
so-called Raja Marga around the Palace; widening has been taken up on Irwin
Road, etc., with scant respect for the symbols of heritage, he complained.
Open
spaces, the lung spaces in the city, have become victims of the developmental
zeal of our leaders. The proposed City Public Library building at People’s
Park, Ambedkar Bhavan on the narrow Krishna Vilas Road, Maharani’s Arts and
Science College building, Babu Jagagivan Ram Bhavan on Valmiki Road are a few
examples. Why could not these huge and magnificent buildings be built in new
areas on the ORR? he questions.
The
heritage Vani Vilasa Market is in ruins since decades, while the Lansdowne
Building collapsed. Have our leaders taken any step to restore these monuments?
Are they waiting for the collapse of the Devaraja Market?, he wonders.
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