Vision Mysuru-2030 concludes today

Mysuru: ‘Vision Mysuru-2030,’ a two-day symposium organised by Chintakara Chavadi to discuss development of the heritage city, began at Ganabharathi in Kuvempunagar here yesterday.

Speaking after inaugurating the symposium, Swami Nityasthanandaji of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama said that Mysuru was a planned and beautiful city, earning the ‘Cleanest City’ tag for two consecutive years.

Pointing out that Mysuru is rightly called as the Cultural Capital of the State and Heritage City, he said it was important to ensure that the city retains its beauty for long.

Noting that culture does not mean only art, Swami Nityasthanandaji said that morality, religiousness, education, humbleness, simplicity, etc. represents true culture. Stating that what we have is civilization and we are is culture, the Swamiji said that peace and harmony very much represents our culture.

Observing that mobilisation of all these will play a keyrole in the development of the city and in maintaining cleanliness of the city, he said that Mysuru should be free of corruption. “Just like we have slogans such as slum-free and hoardings-free, we need to make Mysuru corruption-free city,” he said. Maintaining that the Union Government’s ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ has many advantages and benefits, he said that spirituality without morality was meaningless.

Asserting that ‘Vision Mysuru’ needs 3-D effect — Determination, Dedication and Discipline — for its success, he called upon all the stake-holders to develop Mysuru as a well-planned city, giving no scope for any unplanned growth.

Chavadi Founder and former MLC, D. Madegowda, said that Mahatma Gandhi had once called Mysuru as ‘Ram Rajya.’ Although Mysuru is rich in resources, it has lost its past serenity and beauty, he added.

Observing that the erstwhile Mysuru Kingdom was a role model for other provinces during the rule of Wadiyars as it was a planned city, Madegowda, however, regretted that the city was now developing in an unplanned way and urgent measures were needed to ensure that the city does not develop in a haphazard way. Pointing out that Mysuru stood first on many fronts, including the ‘Cleanest city’ tag, he stressed on the need to carry on with the legacies of the Dewans of the erstwhile Mysuru rulers, who had a great vision for the city.

Former MLA H. Gangadharan, in his address, said that any work needs proper planning. Admiring the legendary vision of Mysuru Maharajas for developing the city in a well-planned manner, he recalled the role the Dewans of Mysuru — Sir Mirza Ismail, Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Seshadri Iyer — in making the city a beautiful place to live.

Swami Mokshanandaji of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Prof. K.S. Nagapathi, Bannumaiah College faculty Prof. B.S. Sundaresh and others were present.

The two-day event featured technical sessions on development models and plans for the city.