Karnataka - Mysore   

NGOs criticise move to shift bus stand to J.K. Grounds

Special Correspondent

The site comes under `parks and open spaces' in the comprehensive development plan for Mysore

MYSORE: The proposal to shift the city bus stand from its existing location to the J.K. Grounds as proposed by the Minister for Transport Cheluvaraya Swamy has drawn flak from various quarters.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) have highlighted the legal hurdles involved with respect to the Minister's proposal.

In a release, Bhamy V. Shenoy of the MGP has said that the proposed site has been classified under "parks and open spaces" in the Revised Comprehensive Development Plan for Mysore. According to Karnataka Parks, Playfields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Rules, 1985, the only building that can be come up in a park is a watchman's quarters.

`Restore greenery'

The Karanji and Siddarthanagar Tax Payers' Association has also spoken up against the move to construct a bus stand at J.K. Grounds and has called upon the public to "Save J.K. Grounds". Syed Tanveeruddin of the association has called for restoring the greenery of Mysore by planting trees in and around the grounds.

The MGP has pointed out that Section 39 of the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Act, 1987, prohibits conversion of any portion of parkland for other uses. The petrol bunk and the MMC Platinum Jubilee Building, which have already come up on the grounds are in violation of the law, Mr. Shenoy said.

The Mysore Medical College Alumni Association has pointed out that J.K. Grounds has been a playground for the college since 1924 and added that the Government had spent huge amounts of money on its improvement.

The Government had passed an order evicting encroachers and unauthorised occupants from the grounds and it was incomprehensible as to why it a bus stand should be allowed to come up there, the association said.

`Foolish proposal'

The NGOs in the city have criticised the proposal and said that at a time when educational institutions in the city did not have adequate infrastructure such as playgrounds, it was foolish on the part of the authorities to convert a playground into a bus stand.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Karnataka Tourism Expo 2006 begins in Mysore today
No dearth of funds for Dasara festivities: Minister
`People preferred Mysore to Bangalore for tourism expo'
NGOs criticise move to shift bus stand to J.K. Grounds
Students of city schools perform well in SSLC examination
Conflicting reports on missing currency
In Mysore Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu