Mysuru: The Managing Committee of the 129-year-old Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry (N.R. Choultry) on Vinoba Road in the heart of the city will soon take possession of its land that has been leased out for 30 years to private parties including the well-known Kings Kourt Hotel. The lease period comes to an  end on Mar.31.

The Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry was built 129 years ago and earlier, it was maintained by the Municipal Administration. At present, it is managed by Sri Nanjaraja Bahadur Chatra Managing Committee that has been constituted under the Muzrai Department. The Choultry was built with an intention to provide affordable accommodation to thousands of tourists who come to the city.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, C. Krishnappa, the President of Sri Nanjaraja Bahadur Chatra Managing Committee, said that the Choultry has 10 acres under its possession and it operates on no-profit-no-loss basis. “While some of the properties have been leased out by the State Government way back in 1975, some are under litigation. We will have to take back the land and the Committee has already sent a proposal to the Government not to renew any lease,” he said.

“The Managing Committee met last month to take stock of the situation and in the light of the lease period coming to an end on Mar.31, the Committee passed a resolution to take possession of the land. The resolution has been forwarded to Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar, who is the Administrative Officer of the Committee,” Krishnappa said.

“The Committee has also approached the appropriate Court of Law and filed a caveat to prevent the people who have taken land on lease from bringing a stay order on the Committee’s move to take over the land. In addition, the Committee has written to Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner not to renew the trade licence of the hotel and a similar letter has been written to the Excise Department, not to renew the bar licence of the hotel in view of the lease coming to an end,” Krishnappa said.

He said that the lease period ended in 2009 and was extended for another 10 years with Mar.31, 2019 as the end date. “The Committee wants to cancel all lease agreements and take the entire land into its possession. A master plan to develop the premises will be prepared soon,” Krishnappa added.

Reacting on the Choultry Managing Committee move,  L. Vivekananda, the proprietor of Kings Kourt Hotel told Star of Mysore that he would abide by the Government decision. “Yes, the lease period ends on Mar.31 and the issue must be decided by the State Government. We will abide by the Government decision,” he said.

It may be recalled here that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, during his visit to Mysuru in September last year had said that the campus of Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry would be utilised to expand Maharani’s Women’s Arts College. A hostel for the students will be built in a one-acre plot behind the Choultry and the State Government already possesses the land, he had said.