The State government will go ahead with the development project planned for Chamundi Hills by keeping environmental concerns in mind, said Minister for Public Works H.C. Mahadevappa.
Addressing a press conference here, the first after taking over as Minister in charge of the district, he said he too was in favour of protecting the environment and would ensure no harm is caused to ecology. “I will speak to environmentalists opposing the project and take them into confidence. We will take up the development works without harming the environment,” he said.
The development project for Chamundi Hills includes laying a four-lane road to the hilltop and construction of a multi-storeyed building for parking of vehicles atop the hill.
Work on widening the road had begun with the deployment of manpower for clearing the area adjoining the existing road. Tenders for constructing a four-lane road are yet to be awarded, Mr. Mahadevappa said.
However, he said there was no dearth of funds for the project, adding that an 18-month deadline has been fixed for completion of the project.
The Minister said he had convened a meeting of district administration officials on Friday, where he would take stock of all the ongoing projects in the city and in the district. Listing out the road development projects, including the stretch from Hardinge Circle to Truck Terminal on Bengaluru–Nilgiri Road, and restoration of heritage buildings, Mr. Mahadevappa said all the ongoing works would be completed in a time-bound manner. “Mysuru will soon be developed into a planned city,” he promised.
He said there was no drinking water scarcity in any village. The administration had taken up drought-relief measures in different parts of the district, he added. Mr. Mahadevappa said he would try to visit Mysuru once in a fortnight to ensure that the works were on track and to respond to public grievances. “I will hold public contact programmes every month,” he said. Also, Mr. Mahadevappa said the Karnataka Development Programme would be held at the district level and taluk level every three months.
Mahadevappa says
he will take into confidence the environmentalists opposing the project
