Corporators opposed the move of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to bring the Horticulture department, which is functioning independently, under its purview.

During the council meeting, here, on Monday, the corporators opposed the move and said, the Horticulture department was functioning successfully in the city since 40 years. Now, MCC Commissioner C G Betsurmath has ordered to bring the department under the purview of the respective zonal offices.

The Commissioner has issued an order in this regard recently. “When a department is functioning better, what is the necessity to link it with the MCC? Is it possible to manage the department at a time when the MCC is facing a dearth of employees?” they asked.

A few corporators asked the MCC to depute its officials to the parks if it really wants to maintain their beauty. The corporators said the commissioner should table the matter before the council for discussion, before taking such decisions.

Commissioner Betsurmath said the decision was taken after several people complained about illegal activities inside the city parks, due to lack of maintenance and basic facilities.

Negligence of officialsCorporator Srikantaiah said the MCC had announced construction of 6,000 houses — 2,000 per Assembly constituency, to be distributed among needy people in the city. But, the matter was not brought to the notice of the corporators. Officials are neglecting the people representatives, he said. “Does the MCC have provision to construct houses?” he asked. 

An official concerned said the civic body had written a letter to every corporator in this regard. The houses were announced under Vajpayee Housing Scheme by Ashraya Samiti. The samiti had announced 600 houses – 200 per constituency — and not 6,000, he clarified.