Mysore/Mysuru: Leaders from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home constituency of Varuna have decided to formally object to the State Government’s notification on the formation of the Greater Mysuru City Corporation (GMCC).

A meeting to discuss the exclusion of Varuna Hobli from the proposed GMCC limits was held yesterday at the auditorium of a private engineering college near the Big Banyan Tree in Chikkahalli. The meeting was chaired by Sharath Puttabuddi.

Addressing the gathering, Sharath Puttabuddi expressed disappointment that the State Government’s Jan. 8 notification on the formation of the GMCC had left out Varuna Hobli. Terming the decision unscientific, he demanded that the Varuna areas be included within the                               GMCC limits.

Closer areas ignored

He pointed out that villages under Yelwal, Nagawala and Beerihundi Panchayats — located nearly 20 km west of Mysuru — have been included, while villages much closer to the city in the east, including those in the Chief Minister’s own constituency, have been excluded.

Areas such as Mosambayanahalli, Varuna, Vajamangala and Devalapura Panchayat villages, along with Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) layouts and private residential localities, have been ignored despite meeting all eligibility criteria. “Why these areas were left out remains a big question,” he said.

Residents from various villages and layouts resolved to continue their agitation until Varuna Hobli is included in the GMCC.

It was decided to submit objections and suggestions to the Directorate of Municipal Administration before the final deadline and to urge all elected representatives, including the district in-charge minister, to intervene.

If the Government fails to respond positively, the participants decided to form a ‘Greater Mysuru City Corporation Struggle Committee’ to intensify the protest.

The meeting was attended by former Zilla Parishat president K.N. Puttabuddi, MyCEM Engineering College president Shivappa, trustee M. Kishore Biddappa, former Mayor Dakshinamurthy, Manjunath, retired ZP CEO Shivakumar, Chikkahalli Krishnamurthy, Madappa, Praveen, Siddharth, Shivaswamy, Lohith, Vasudevan, Jayaram and several others.