Is the proposed ‘Greater Mysore’ — which envisages incorporation of 41 villages on the city’s outskirts into city corporation limits — as good as dead?
The question is significant as the proposal has not come before the government or the Urban Development Department and was mooted locally, according to P.N. Srinivasachary, Principal Secretary, Urban Development, here on Friday.
The issue came up at a press conference addressed by Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake who said that as Mysore’s population was around 10 lakh, it was not prudent to push for Greater Mysore at this juncture.
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“Bangalore’s population was 5.4 million as per the 2001 census and 8.4 million as per the 2011 census; thus, Greater Bangalore is deserved — but Mysore’s population is nowhere on that scale,” said the Minister. However, he did not comment on whether the proposal would be buried or not.
The concept of Greater Mysore was pushed by the then district in charge Minister S.A. Ramdas. It received flak from the Congress for “being floated to benefit realtors”, as it would drive land prices up.
However, the Congress had, in its Mysore manifesto, specifically stated that it would give the green signal for Greater Mysore.
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Review
On the notification of Mysore Master Plan 2031, Mr. Sorake said he had been apprised of the issue and would prefer to review the plan, taking into consideration the objections of stakeholders. However, the Minister ruled out extending the deadline for filing of suggestions and objections.
He added that he would like to incorporate feasible suggestions for the city’s development in the next 30 years.
The Minister also promised that the outer ring road would be completed by the end of the current financial year (2013–14). Work on the road’s ‘missing link’ — a stretch of 9.33 km — which had not been completed for various reasons, would be launched to ensure that this target was met, he added.
Mr. Sorake said the new government would focus on providing civic amenities for all cities and improving infrastructure pertaining to drinking water, sanitation and underground drainage, among other aspects, in these places.
Funds for projects had been released under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, but the benefits of these projects had not reached the public.
The department would ensure the completion of the work, he added.
Earlier, Mr. Sorake held a review meeting with officials of the Mysore City Corporation and the Mysore Urban Development Authority. Instead of being briefed by officials in Bangalore, he would rather visit city corporations and review progress of development projects personally, he said.