MYSORE: Scores of citizens staged a dharna here on Friday urging the Government and the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to expedite allotment of sites.

The agitation comes close on the heels of a directive issued by the Urban Secretary Subash Chandra, who directed the MUDA to conduct a demand survey for sites and suggest an action plan to clear the backlog of applications. The survey, while assessing the number of site aspirants in the city, is also expected to come out with a set of recommendations to cater to the aspirants within a definite time frame.

The MUDA will also be asked to expand the scope of its activities from merely designing new layouts to conceiving new business districts to attract investments. However, the crux of its activity of devising a plan for the city's holistic development will remain unchanged. Mr. Chandra told presspersons here on Thursday after holding a review meeting with the officials that there has been an increase in the number of aspirants seeking sites and hence a demand survey had been ordered.

However, site aspirants gathered in front of the MUDA office under the banner of the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM) and demanded that no fresh applications be invited until the 2.36 lakh applications that are pending before the MUDA are cleared.

The association demanded that the Government approve MUDA's proposal to acquire 3,000 acres of land, which was pending since the last two years.

Verification

The citizens stressed the need for strict verification before allotting sites. The association alleged that land sharks from Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and other cities had acquired land in the city. "The Government should conduct an inquiry and ascertain the objectives of those who have purchased land on a large scale," the association said.

Construction of houses

Taking exception to the practice of site holders' preference to hold on to the land instead of constructing houses, the association said the MUDA should make it mandatory for owners to construct a house within two years after site allotment as per the MUDA Act.

The activists, who were led by association convenor M. Lakshmana, submitted a memorandum to the MUDA Commissioner and the Chief Minister listing their demands and demanded that the private developers hand over 50 per cent of the sites to the MUDA to help the latter clear the pending applications.

Senior citizens

The association called for reserving 12 per cent of the sites for senior citizens on the lines of a policy adopted by the authorities in Bangalore with respect to allotment of sites in Arkavathy Layout.

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