Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mysuru: Even though Mysureans are happy about the allotment of funds to various projects for the district, they are disappointed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not allotting a special grant or package for the development of his home district - Mysuru - especially for restoration of at least 10 heritage buildings, which need immediate attention.
"We are not sure when a Mysurean will become Chief Minister again. Siddaramaiah should have allotted funds for a landmark bigger project, which people would remember for long, like how he allotted funds during his previous tenure as CM for big projects like District Hospital, Superspecialty and Trauma Care centre, building of Sri Jayadeva Hospital. He should have allotted separate land and building for Rangayana, which is functioning land at the backyard of Kalamandira. He should have announced about getting a permanent bigger space for 'Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada' (CESCK)," felt P Apoorva, a Mysurean.
"It is disappointing that there is no allotment of fund to establish the Country's largest modern leopard rescue and rehabilitation centre, proposed by Forest department, in order to handle the treatment of 100 rescued leopards that are captured in the operations and manage them well in captivity, enhance survival of injured leopards" shared, S Aarush, a Mysurean.
Mysuru Hotel Owners' Association president C Narayangowda said, "Tourism stakeholders are happy about the investment of Rs 8,000 crore for development of tourism, which is probably the highest so far, and also several projects for Mysuru. But all the projects should be implemented on a war-foot basis. Expansion of the airport runway, the international film society should become a reality soon. It is disappointing that there is no announcement to establish a long time demand to establish the Dasara authority. We had demanded an international convention centre with a seating capacity of 40,000 in Mysuru; and funds for development of an aquarium behind Mysuru Zoo, which is pending for a long."
P Vishwanath, President of Mysuru Industries Association and general secretary of MSME Parishat Suresh Kumar Jain felt that it is a development-oriented balanced budget and they welcome several projects for Mysuru and a new policy for MSMEs, establishment of 5,000 new micro-food processing units.
But he should have allotted funds for development, Thandya and Hebbal in Mysuru, which were declared as special investment regions recently, and also for the Mysuru Export Centre, they felt.
Founder president of Mysuru Grahakara Parishat Bhamy V Shenoy said, "I am happy to see the announcement for a museum at the old DC office. But no amount has been indicated. While they have announced the Endocrinology Centre at Mysuru Medical College, I am disappointed not to see any budget support for KR Hospital, which is in bad shape. It is important to maintain old hospitals, rather than sanctioning a new project. No funds are sanctioned for development of dilapidated government schools in Mysuru City. I am most disappointed not to see any funds for the long-pending 24X7 water supply project for Mysuru."
But, Mysuru district Congress rural president B J Vijay kumar felt that besides continuation of guarantee schemes, there is allocation of funds for various projects to build an equal society to fulfill the aspiration of Buddha, Basavavanna and Ambedkar. Siddaramaiah has allotted funds for the comprehensive development of Mysuru in different forms, to repay his home land.
JD(S) MLA G T Devegowda said that though he has not announced in the budget, Siddaramaiah has plans to allot special grant for Mysuru for upgrading Mysore City Corporation as Bruhat Mysuru Nagara Palike, development of peripheral ring road and others in a supplementary budget.