Date:26/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082660111200.htm

Karnataka

Park on the lines of Lal Bagh in the offing

Special Correspondent

MYSORE: A new park on the lines of Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park spread over 70 acres of land, constitution of Mysore Urban Water Supply and Sewage Board on the lines of the BWSSB, and laws to regulate and conserve heritage properties are some of the projects in the offing in Mysore. Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development S. Suresh Kumar said that the MUWSSB would be constituted to infuse professionalism with regard to supplying drinking water.

Referring to dwindling open spaces in urban areas, the Minister said that though Mysore had about 615 parks , only three or four parks were significant while the rest were shabbily maintained or had not yet been developed. Hence, the Minister said the vast space around the Government House would be converted into a park.

“A blueprint will be prepared in due course. I have entrusted the responsibility of developing the land into a park to the Mysore Urban Development Authority,” he added.

The draft heritage law will give teeth to the existing laws and the urban bodies to conserve heritage buildings, said the Minister.

The Government has released Rs. 25 crore of the Rs. 50 crore grant to take up development works in Mysore announced in the budget.

The second instalment will be released in due course, Mr. Kumar added.