Mysuru: Former Mayor Sandesh Swamy has criticised MUDA for its decision to hand over layouts to local bodies without officially notifying the transfer in the State Gazette, calling it a violation of law.

In a press release, Swamy referred to the transfer of 240 out of over 900 layouts to local bodies including the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), City Municipal Council and Town Panchayats, questioning the legality of the move. He pointed out that services related to issuing khata and finalizing tax slabs remain inadequate at the Vijayanagar Second Stage, despite it being handed over according to rules.

He emphasised that under current regulations, the MCC is only authorised to undertake maintenance work, not development projects. Therefore, initiating the handover process without clearly defining the jurisdiction of the local bodies and publishing it in the State Gazette would be illegal.

Financial strain on MCC

He further highlighted the financial strain on the MCC, which, despite completing works worth Rs. 400 crore within its limits over the past year, struggles to clear contractor bills. It could take up to two years to settle these arrears, raising concerns about how the MCC will raise funds to address the needs of new layouts.

Swamy also pointed out that the layouts already under the MCC’s jurisdiction are plagued with issues like inadequate drinking water supply, poor road quality, and other basic infrastructural shortcomings.

He questioned how local bodies would be able to manage these new layouts without a clear source of revenue.

There is growing suspicion that the handover of these layouts is being rushed, either to protect the interests of certain parties or to distract from ongoing investigations into MUDA-related corruption.

Former Mayor Sandesh Swamy urged Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, who also serves as the MUDA Chairman, to halt the process and engage in a detailed discussion                                          before moving forward with any further transfers.