MYSORE: Local authorities, including Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Mysore City Corporation (MCC), have come under flak for "improper scrutiny" of documents pertaining to the new township on the Ideal Jawa factory site.

Since those opposing the project were shouted down at the public hearing held here on Monday, non-governmental organisations were unable to present their case. Hence the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has submitted its views to the authorities and urged them not to sanction the township in view of the shortcomings in the present proposal.

MGP president Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Sudhir Vombatkere said that the apartment buildings would be higher than 20 m and according to the Mysore Regional Fire Officer, the fire engines operating in Mysore could not reach a height of more than 11 m. Hence the buildings would not be protected from fire, he added.

Dr. Vombaktere said the estimate of the number of vehicles in the residential buildings given by the project promoters was far too low, given the amenities promised in the township.

Each apartment is likely to have a minimum of two four-wheelers. This would cause parking problems in Yadavagiri, he said.

According to the MGP, the Rapid Environment Impact Assessment Report shows the roads surrounding the project as being 18 m. and 22 m. wide. "This was totally misleading and the extensions of these roads not touching the project area are not more than 10 m wide. It is clear that the roads adjoining the property have been made wider only to bypass the restrictions on the number of floors," Dr. Vombatkere said.

According to the zoning regulations, the number of floors permitted depends on the width of the road as taller buildings have more occupants and hence more vehicles and the roads servicing them must be wide enough to bear this extra load. Only 1+3 floors were permitted on roads that were 10 m. wide, and 8 floors on those with a width of 18 m., the MGP said.

"The report depicts the road as having a width of 18 m. to build eight-storeyed buildings. If the project is allowed, it will cause serious traffic congestion in Yadavagiri, Brindavan and Bannimantap that surround the project," the MGP said.

Dr. Vombatkere pointed out that according to the plan shown in the document, the number of apartments to be constructed was 1,450.

There would be at least 113 building blocks, which would mean that the residential buildings would have at least 12 floors. In that case, it would exceed the number of floors permitted, which was eight, he said.

It was strange that the number of floors being built had not been mentioned in the executive summary or the environment impact assessment Report, he added.

Owing to the problems it would pose, the project should not be accorded clearance. If a fresh proposal was made, another public hearing should be held, the MGP said.

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