Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah should have given special package to retain Mysuru's charm: Stakeholders

Mysuru Hotel Owners' Association President C Narayanagowda said, 'They should have allotted land and funds for projects like heritage village to promote all GI tagged brands and products of Mysuru; Mysore silk city to promote Mysore silk.'

Mysuru: Even though Mysuru has got several projects in the Karnataka budget, stakeholders feel that there are no specific allocations or a separate package with a vision to develop the city in a sustainable way and to maintain and conserve its original nature and charm as a green, heritage city and tourism destination.

Heritage expert committee member, N S Rangaraju said, "They should have allotted a package of Rs 500 crore for development of heritage structures. They should have allotted more land, and resources for 'Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada (CESCK), located in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's home district, as they need to have their own registered land and building to get autonomous status."

Mysuru Hotel Owners' Association President C Narayanagowda said, "They should have formed a vision group with stakeholders from tourism, hospitality, environment and other sectors to seek feedback on projects needed to retain Mysuru's grace and identity as heritage city. There is no separate allocation to upgrade Mysuru to greater Mysuru which has been approved and for outer ring road."

"They should have allotted land and funds for projects like heritage village to promote all GI tagged brands and products of Mysuru; Mysore silk city to promote Mysore silk. This also boosts tourism. Mysuru being cultural capital of the State and international yoga capital, they should have allotted funds for international yoga or cultural convention centre like JCAC. They should have atleast allotted more land and funds for the development and expansion of Rangayana."

Writer and Environmentalist Ravi Bale said, "the allocation in the budget is scattered and lacks specific vision for each region. Our development budget should have clearly earmarked more funds, towards sustainable plans for preservation of urban greenery; maintenance of heritage structures without waiting for them to collapse; and improvement of existing infrastructure."

"Priority should be towards improvement over development, conservation over construction. With mere new developmental projects, and concretisation of urban green and farm spaces, farming activities are pushed to encroach forest edges resulting in conflicts."

Aahana, a Mysurean felt, "They should have allotted funds for development of a parking area and vendors' zone at the foot of Chamundi hill and to provide EV vehicles to the hill. With this they could ban vehicles to the hill and relocate vendors, so that the serenity of the hill could have been preserved."