Has Mysuru missed an opportunity to get the coveted ‘smart city’ status?
If the recent statement of Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake is an indication, Mysuru seems to have missed its chance to be part of the ambitious Smart Cities’ Mission.
The government has proposed eleven cities/towns from the State for the development of smart cities and Mysuru does not figure in the list. Ramanagaram, Channapatna, Devanahalli, and Tumakuru had been identified under the category of towns and cities with a population of less than 5 lakh; Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Mangaluru under the category with a population of 5 to 10 lakh; and Vijayapura, Udupi and Hosapete under the heritage category. Mysuru was one of the cities picked out under the Smart Cities Mission as the city met most of the factors for staking a claim . Each city selected under the mission (out of 100 cities) would get a grant of Rs. 100 crore a year for five years from the Centre.
Commissioner of Mysore City Corporation C.G. Betsurmath, who had attended a recent conclave on smart cities in New Delhi, told The Hindu that he had not received any communication either from the State or the Centre on the issue.
“Mysuru was one of the foremost choices and I really don’t know why the city has not found a place in the proposed smart cities’ list from Karnataka. There is still some confusion and I am hopeful that the city will be considered for the coveted status,” said Dr. Betsurmath, who is also the State Commissioner for Archaeology, Heritage and Museums.
Sources here said that Mysuru could have been proposed under the heritage category of the mission since the city was known for its heritage value.
Though unconfirmed, one of the reasons attributed for Mysuru missing the chance is its population. The city did not fit in the Smart Cities Mission category with a population of 5 to 10 lakh since it was believed that the city’s population had crossed the 10 lakh mark.
