Former MP A H Vishwanath said, the development of the city has suffered a set back, after the BJP-led NDA government assumed power at the Centre.
Speaking at a press meet, here, on Sunday, he said, funds to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore, which had been sanctioned to the city under the second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) by the UPA government, has now been withdrawn.
Among the projects suspended due to the decision of the NDA government are grade separators at six locations in the city to avoid traffic congestion at a cost of Rs 69 crore, Integrated Water Supply scheme for rural areas around Mysore at a cost of Rs 450 crore, Rs 300 crore underground drainage works, etc, he said.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the city, during the Lok Sabha election campaign, he had promised to transform Mysore into Paris. However, his decisions indicate that it is not going to happen anytime soon, he added.
Besides, the apathy of the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) officials was also a cause for the lag in developmental activities. Such attitude has resulted in leakage of MCC funds. The Deputy Commissioner should take measures to check them, he said.
He said, he had communicated about the problems of the MCC to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has assured to hold a review meeting of the MCC on November 30.
Committee
Vishwanath urged the State government to constitute a committee to suggest measures to prevent repeated instances of sexual violence against women and children.
He said, the committee should consist of experts in the field of education, social scientists, psychiatrists and others. The committee should ponder, why such crimes are being committed repeatedly, despite an outrage against them in the society.
“Even though such acts are condemnable, it is not apt to use them as a political tool,” he said, aiming his ire at the BJP. He criticised the statements made by BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, and said, leaders should not stoop to the level of degrading personalities, while speaking about issues that concern everyone.
