Mysuru lakes to be developed at 6.26 cr: Minister

The Tourism department has decided to develop the three prominent lakes in the city at a cost of Rs 6.26 crore.

After visiting the Karanji, Kukkarahalli and Lingambudi lakes on Sunday, Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh said, “A master plan has been prepared to develop three major waterbodies in the city. A committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G Sankar has been constituted in this regard. In the first phase, the government will spend Rs 4.2 crore on Kukkarahalli Lake. The desilting and other development works will be taken up, he said.

“Likewise, the Karanji Lake will be developed at a cost of Rs 2.6 crore. The engineers have been directed to prepare a plan to repair feeder channels to fill the water from the Chamundi Hill. A butterfly park will also be developed on the Karanji lake premises,” the minister said.

On the sewage water being drained into the Lingambudhi Lake, Mahesh said necessary steps would be taken to address the problem and take up works to develop the historic lake.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has also directed to protect and conserve Lingambudi Lake, he added. On Mysore Race Course row, Mahesh said, the illegal structures inside the race course would be demolished soon. “The race course can be used only to conduct races and there is no provision to rear horses,” he said.

Saalumarada Thimmakka Park

The Saalumarada Thimmakka Park at Malalavadikere in Jayanagar, which was inaugurated by MP Pratap Simha, on Sunday, will be developed at Rs 1.75 crore.

Footpaths, seating arrangements, equipment needed for morning walkers, meditation area, bird viewpoint, notice boards, children play area, drinking water units, toilets, will be developed in the park. The Forest department authorities have planted 422 fruit trees and 25 rare species of plants in the park. Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda, Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath, MLA S A Ramdas, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Venkatesan, Deputy Conservator of Forests K T Hanumanthappa and others were present.