FOR A BEAUTIFUL CITY: A master plan to beautify Mysore and tap its tourism potential is to be prepared shortly. — PHOTO: M.A.SRIRAM

MYSORE: A master plan for beautification of Mysore city will be prepared to project the city as a popular tourist destination.

Minister for Housing and district in-charge D.T. Jayakumar said here on Tuesday that the plan would focus on the comprehensive development and beautification of the city in tune with its heritage status. Architects and expert urban planners would be roped in for the purpose, he added.

Underlining the tourism potential of the city, Mr. Jayakumar said Mysore, together with T. Narsipur, Nanjangud, Somnathpur, Gommatagiri and Srirangapatana could be sold as a three-day package for tourists.

Mr. Jayakumar said Mysore was a well conceived by the Maharajas and was a planned city since its early days.

The Minister said the city would also receive funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and efforts would be made to make Mysore "slum-free".

The Minister hinted at a new venture to develop Madhuvana, which is the burial grounds of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore and is at present languishing in neglect. "I had discussions with the scion of the royal family and the former MP Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar in this connection and the latter has assured of his cooperation to develop the area," said Mr. Jayakumar.

The Minister said Mr. Wadiyar had expressed his displeasure at not being involved in the script for the Son et Lumiere or the sound and light show to be beamed at the Mysore Palace. Mr. Jayakumar said he had assured Mr. Wadiyar that the script would be vetted by a panel of experts and would be shown to him before it was cleared.

The sound and light show is expected to be a new attraction to tourists visiting Mysore and it was supposed to be inaugurated during Dasara last year but has been delayed.

The Minister said the Government had a vision and an objective to beautify Mysore and develop it on the lines envisaged by its founders.

The sprawling gardens and open space of nearly 30 acres belonging to the Government Guest House would be developed on the lines of Cubbon Park in Bangalore, Mr. Jayakumar said.

He said the ropeway to Chamundi Hills would also be taken up and all efforts would be made to convince the environmentalists opposed to the project.

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