A proposal to bring all layouts along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) under the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) limits has evoked mixed reactions from stakeholders.
A section of lawmakers, including the Mayor, are concerned that it is fraught with financial implications for the local body that are beyond its ability. There is another section that has described the move as imperative for regulated and planned growth of the city’s periphery, which is now witnessing haphazard development.
Though the proposal is based on an oral order from the Chief Minister, Mayor M.J. Ravi said it would be a disaster for the city if the layouts are not surveyed beforehand to assess the infrastructure in place. He told The Hindu the MCC would seek at least ₹1,000 crore for the development of these areas, complete with underground drainage system, streetlights, asphalted roads, parks and open spaces, besides storm-water drains.
“A mere oral order will not suffice. It should be backed by sufficient funds for infrastructure development before the layouts are transferred to the MCC limits. Otherwise, it would be beyond the capacity of the MCC to develop these areas...,” he said.
Drainage matters
Pointing to the recent rains in the city that resulted in inundation, the Mayor said a majority of the areas were developed by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) without a thought given to laying storm-water drain. Besides, there are revenue layouts that have mushroomed within the ORR limits and along the periphery of the ring road, and they all will suffer frequent cases of inundation if the MUDA fails to create a proper drainage system, Mr. Ravi Kumar said. He has directed the MCC Commissioner to send a proposal for special grants to the government.
At present, most of the layouts mushrooming along the ORR come under gram panchayats and have not been provided basic amenities. This was also pointed out by Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, who has urged the MCC to constitute a team to make a list of the amenities that need to be put in place and to prepare a cost estimate for doing so.
Cautioning against hastily transferring the layouts to the MCC, former Mayor H.S. Srikantaiah said the tenure of the current MCC Council would end in 10 months. He said that first, the cost estimate for infrastructure works needs to be prepared.
Meanwhile, the MCC Commissioner said a committee would be set up to study the issue and prepare a final report before submission to the government.
The implications
The proposal has both financial and administrative implications.
MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha said that on the administrative side, the number of wards in the corporation will go up from 65 to either 69 or 70. However, funds would be required for infrastructure development in case the amenities are found wanting.
But in most cases, it is the MCC that has been administering the area by ensuring water supply, maintaining streetlights and clearing out garbage. Hence, the transfer of the layouts would add to the property tax base and augment the civic body’s income, he said.
The issue also came up for discussion at the MCC Council meeting on Tuesday, and though there were apprehensions that the corporation would be saddled with the responsibility of catering to an additional population of 2 lakh to 3 lakh, the Commissioner said it would not be more than 50,000.
Welcoming the proposal, Mr. Jagadeesha said at present, the MCC limits are not clearly defined and it would make administration easier in the periphery of the ORR were to be the boundary of the coporation’s limits.
If the proposal is approved, Hinkal, Alanahalli, Chamundi Hills, Vijayanagar ii Stage, and Srirampura panchayat, among others, will be within the MCC’s ambit.
