Mysuru: “With an organised and well co-ordinated planning, Mysuru has the capability of becoming a model city not only for Karnataka but to the entire country,” said Varun Michael Pais, an Urban Planner and Researcher at University of California, Berkeley.

He was delivering a talk on the topic ‘Mysuru at crossroads: Planning, democracy and the future of the city’ at the S.P. Bhat Hall, Institution of Engineers-India (IEI), Mysuru, on JLB Road here yesterday.

Stating that currently Mysuru stands at crossroads of its history, Pais, an alumnus of Wadiyar Centre for Architecture, Mysuru, said that while Mysuru is facing challenge on retaining its rich traditions, culture and heritage on one hand, the city is opening up to fast paced urbanisation, industrialisation and IT sector on the other hand.

“In the past few years, attempts to project  Mysuru as the second IT-BT capital has gained rapid momentum, with the establishment of many IT companies. Also, the construction of 10-lane access-controlled Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway has given a boost to the State’s economic corridor,” he noted.

“Conservation of heritage and historical structures, sustainable urban development, environmental conservation, reliable public transport, more measures for attracting employment generating Industries and IT companies, a local administration that facilitates a higher participation of citizens, an appropriate water supply system, proper waste management ways and development of civic amenities and other infrastructure, are key for the city’s future,” he maintained.

He also underlined that democracy-based planning and a wider public participation are very much essential for Mysuru to grow as a modern city while retaining its cultural legacy and heritage city tag.

“Though the Urban Planning Authority plays a key role in the city’s growth, questions still remain on political intervention, the hold of politicians and lack of autonomy in the Authority’s planning initiatives. More decentralisation of the functioning of the body is needed if city planning is to be kept free of political intervention,” he contended.

Continuing, Pais said that the population and urbanisation of Mysuru is going on at a rapid pace. There are already widespread talks on the dangers of Mysuru city becoming a second Bengaluru. In such a situation,  democratic planning assumes much significance, he argued.

“Only officials and politicians must not take decisions on city’s development. Any planning must involve the participation of citizens, experts, traders, the youth and leaders of various communities and all sections of the society. Such an initiative would make development more people-centred and purposeful,” he opined.

IEI Mysuru Chairman H.S. Suresh Babu, Secretary M.K. Nanjaiah, Programme Co-ordinator Dr. H.C. Chowdegowda, Chinnaswamy, MGP Founder- President Bhamy V. Shenoy and others were present.