Mysuru:  Minister of Tourism S.R. Mahesh has directed the authorities of Mysore Race Club (MRC) to vacate the horse stables in the Race Course premises by June 30. He has warned that if MRC fails to vacate them, the District Administration will demolish the structures after June 30.

The Minister gave these directions to MRC authorities when he visited the Club yesterday to inspect the basic facilities. Questioning the MRC over the construction of the stables, Mahesh said that the State Government had leased the prime land to the Club for racing purposes only. But the club went ahead and constructed stables illegally.

“If a poor man encroaches a government land and constructs a small house, will you spare him,” Mahesh questioned the officials present during the visit. “What the MRC has done is illegal. They should make separate arrangements for horse stables. As horses are being housed here, the animals in the nearby Zoo are facing the threat of various diseases and infections. Even the Zoo officials have written to the State Government in this regard,” the Minister said.

Mahesh said that the government had withheld the renewal of MRC licence as the MRC has failed to adhere to the conditions laid in the lease agreement. He said that he will bring the issues before Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna.

On the shifting of MRC to city outskirts, the Minister said that the MRC authorities must not approach the Court against the government’s shifting move and instead negotiate with the government for suitable land. If the MRC moves out of the city, the present MRC land can be used as a tourist attraction, he added.