Mysuru: The Mysore Race Course (MRC) will be closed and shifted to a spacious land that will be beyond 25 kilometres from the city limits, said the newly-appointed Minister for Tourism and Sericulture S.R. Mahesh.
He was addressing a press conference at the Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute on Manandawadi Road in city this morning after visiting the Suttur Mutt and seeking the blessings of Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji.
The Minister said that the licence of MRC will not be renewed at any cost. “The State Government will not renew the licence and the MRC property will be taken over by the Government where a Botanical Garden and a Bird Park will come up. We will not allow racing activities within the city limits and instead utilise the space to promote Mysuru as a tourist hub,” the Minister said.
Detailing out his plans on the MRC, the Minister said that he will visit the MRC today at 3 pm to discuss the issue with MRC Chairman and Secretary. “I will go there to discuss the holding of International Yoga Day event at MRC lawns like last year on June 21 and will discuss the issue of the club closure and shifting,” he said. The 139 acres of land was leased to the MRC by the Public Works Department (PWD) in 1976.
When the reporters questioned about the MRC authorities going to the Court against the shifting move, Mahesh said that the government will convince the MRC authorities to let go of the land. “The land belongs to the PWD that is looked after by Minister H.D. Revanna. I will discuss the issue with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Revanna and take the issue to a logical end. The MRC cannot claim the land as their own and must vacate it for larger benefits of the public,” he said.
“I know that by asking the MRC to shut operations and shift, I will be putting my hands into a beehive as there will be a backlash and controversies. I am ready to face it and the government will have to take a step that benefits a common man,” Mahesh said.
Asked about the alternative land to MRC, Mahesh said that hundreds of acres of Government land were available beyond 25 kilometres of Mysuru city limits. “The MRC can easily be shifted there and it will be convenient and spacious for them to shift, instead of operating within city limits in a prime property.
It may be recalled here that as an MLA and before becoming the Minister, S.R. Mahesh had repeatedly urged the State Government in the past not to renew the licence of the MRC.
As the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Karnataka Legislature, Mahesh had visited the MRC in July last year and had asked the MRC authorities to hand over the land back to PWD to develop a Bird Park and a Botanical Garden.
Mahesh, then an MLA, had directed the MRC to hand over the land to the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popular as Mysuru Zoo.
He had then stated that if the MRC land is surrendered back to the government, it will help the Zoo to extend area-wise and also develop the Botanical Garden.
The MRC was established with a sense of heritage and the background viewing the Chamundi hill. It was originally planned by some noble people with a greater sense of responsibility. It was not just a race ground but added value of aesthetics with a tinge of Royal touch. You would not have seen such location anywhere in the world while you may see many gardens and animals in Zoo.25 kms away you would see a barren land, filth and a place to loot. Even horses may not like to be there and would die opposing the move not to speak of people going there to see it. They may resort to “Satyagraha”.Tomorrow one would say and suggest that the Palace grounds must be used to rear silkworms just because it is vacant in the midst of city! Weird ideologies.
By this it already looks like the Coalition government has put an eye to capture and own this land in reserve for some builder for a Mall or apartment complex. JDS may have to intervene if they really care about Mysore city and Mysorean values. Mysore was in existence in history centuries much before Karnataka even appeared in recent decades.
The above proposition is a freak idea and must be opposed at all levels by Mysorean. Some one not aware of Mysore topography and its beauty that prevailed and escaped attention can only think of such crazy ideas.We have enough of animals and Zoo in Mysore and elsewhere!
There is no need to expand zoo in a Race Course .If one wish let a Botanical Garden be made opposite the new stadium in Manasagangotri near the PG Dept. of Botany. OR for that matter 25 kms from Mysore as suggested place at least the land would be better served with water and irrigation.
Let Politics don’t interfere with mother Nature. MYSOREANS MUST STRONGLY OPPOSE INCLUDING THOSE ELECTED FROM THIS NOBLE LAND AND THE ERSTWHILE MRC ADMINISTRATION.A better administered would have averted this proposal.
What about shifting Bangalore turf club? Such a traffic chaos…
Thanks to dr Balakrishna for a clear write up. THIS IS THE BEST RACECOURSE IN THE WORLD WITH THE SCENIC BEAUTY. WHEN WE HAVE BRINDAVAN GARDENS, ZOO, CHAMUNDI HILLS, RANGANATHITTU BIRD SANCTUARY, ETC AROUND MYSORE, WHY UNNECESSARILY CREATE COMPLICATIONS BY DESTROYING THE BEAUTIFUL RACECOURSE. EVERY MYSOREAN SHOULD OPPOSE THIS !! THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT, MYSOREANS HAVE (FOR WHO EVER IS INTERESTED).
SHIFTING OF MRC IS A FOOLISH IDEA !!! LET THEM SHIFT BTC FIRST, IF THEY WANT SO MUCH.
LET THE MINISTER CONSTRUCT ANOTHER SIMILAR RACE COURSE AT 25 KMS DISTANCE AND THEN SHIFT THE SAME IF HE WANTS SO MUCH.
Let Politics don’t interfere with THIS SCENIC BEAUTY.
I REALLY WONDER WHY THERE IS NO WORD EITHER FROM THE SECRETARY OR CHAIRMAN OR MEMBERS OF MRC.
LET AMBAREESH TELL THE CHIEF MINISTER ABOUT THIS AND STAY WHERE YOU ARE.
BEFORE SHIFTING MRC TO 25 KMS DISTANCE, LET THE GOVT. OF KARNATAKA, STOP SELLING CIGARETTES, STOP SELLING LIQUORS, BAN ALL RECREATIONAL CLUBS IN MYSOORU. THEN THINK OF SCENIC BEAUTY MRC, THE WORLD’S BEST RACE COURSE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. THE WHOLE WORLD IS APPRECIATING MRC FOR THE SCENIC NATURE.
WHEN YOU HAVE BRINDAVAN GARDENS, WHY ANOTHER BOTANICAL GARDEN ?? VERY BAD ! VERY BAD!!
THE CONCERNED MINISTER SHOULD HIS VIEWS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.