He was participating in a pre-budget interaction organised in the city. University for Ayurveda Medicine that includes yoga education, the much awaited declaration of Mysore as ‘Heritage City’ and programme to develop the city as ‘healthy’ from 2011- 13 will also be announced in the budget.
Explaining about the intended ‘healthy city’ programme, the minister said that in the first phase, stress will be laid on creating plastic and hut free city. Projects estimated at ` 6.5 crore have been sanctioned to check the flow of sewage into Karanji and Kukkarahalli Lakes. The works are expected to be completed in six months of launching the project.
Apart from that, the gram panchayats will be asked to recharge underground water level in every villages. Action plans can be drawn under the ongoing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Efforts will be made to rejuvenate water level in one year, the minister exuded confidence.
Earlier, Mysore Hoteliers Association President M Rajendra exhorted the minister to impress upon the government to release ` 100 crore for the overall development of Mysore. A permanent exhibition and other tourist-friendly programmes could be a reality using the funds. To promote and encourage hotel industry alone, a discount of 25 per cent on the total investment should be provided. Tax imposed on high end hotels should be revised from the existing 12 per cent to five per cent.
Industrialist R Guru sought for creating Nada Habba Authority instead of Dasara, organising all the important festivals in a year under its banner. To bring in uniformity, all the shops should have their name boards painted in same colour. Industrial Township should be taken up to encourage entrepreneurs.
Mysore Industries Association, President and former mayor P Vishwanath voiced for establishing an export centre at an industrial area on the outskirts, besides ensuring the supply of river water to the industries and also permission to construct houses in the industrial areas. The sites that have been left vacant, due to different reasons could be forfeited and distributed to the needy, added Vishwanath.
Dr Gangubai Hanagal University for Music and Performing Arts Registrar, N M Talawar urged the minister for early solving of the dispute pertaining to 100 acres of land allotted at Varkod on T Narsipura Road. He also wanted the minister to expedite the government to allocate more funds in the forthcoming budget to construct a building and launch courses from the coming academic year. The Higher Education Department has given the required permission to begin with the courses, he said.
Prof Shivaraj from University of Mysore said it would be detrimental to the common man, if there was any rise in taxes on essential commodities. He demanded for revising of excise policy and also recruitment on contract basis, fixing of minimum salary for daily unorganised labourers and alternate facility for road side vendors.
Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens Executive Director K B Markandaiah mooted the urgency for creating better parking facility for the visitors.
Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Chairman H D Raghavendra emphasised on declaring Mysore as international tourist centre, followed by up gradation of ESI Hospital and another ` 100 crore for MCC, and slashing of the existing VAT by one per cent.