MYSORE: Rapid changes in the Mysore city's real estate map over the last two years have had its share of controversy. The scramble for huge open spaces by developers and the mega projects that they have proposed seem to be incoherent with the core aspect of the city, which has been named one of the 10 heritage cities in the country by the Union Government.

From the proposed complex to replace the magnificent structure of the century-old Devaraja Market to the Makkaji Chowka complex, mega projects threaten to mar the beauty of the heritage city. The housing complex, which is expected to come up on the 28-acre plot belonging to the erstwhile Ideal Jawa Motorcycle factory in Yadavagiri area, also seems incompatible with the city's heritage status.

The mega projects are being opposed by a few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that insist that the projects envisaged were not compatible with the heritage status of the city. Besides the infrastructural facilities were far too less than what was being projected.

According to Mysore Grahakara Parishath president Maj. Gen. (Retd.) S. V. Vombathkere such huge projects should not be allowed to come up inside the city as the existing infrastructure was woefully inadequate. Residents were already facing shortage of water, electricity and disposal of solid wastes had become a problem, he added.

Public hearing?

Convener of Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore, Lakshama told The Hindu that the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by a Bangalore-based private agency for the mega housing project in Yadavagiri did not even have the dates during when the assessment was carried out. The environment public hearing held to elicit opinion from residents and groups did not even allow those who wanted to raise objections, to speak. This happened in front of senior district administration officials, he said. The NGOs here are bracing up to take legal recourse for justice.

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