Mysuru: Tourism Minister S.R. Mahesh yesterday afternoon visited Mysore Race Course (MRC) premises, which will play host for the International Day of Yoga (IDY) in city and reviewed the preparations. He was accompanied with MLA S.A. Ramdas, DC Abhiram G. Sankar, MCC Commissioner K.H. Jagadeesha, Tourism Deputy Director H.P. Janardhan, District AYUSH Officer Dr. Seethalakshmi, MRC Chairman G. Venkatesh and other officials.
He later conducted a meeting with the officials concerned and collected information from them.
Speaking to the Media, Mahesh said that the State Government will be celebrating Yoga Day in Mysuru on June 21 at 6 am in which more than 75,000 people are expected to participate.
He said that last year, Mysuru entered the Guinness Book of Records in the largest yoga lesson category with more than 55,000 people participating and this year we are expecting more participants but not aiming for any records. “Without exercises, many are falling sick and are spending huge money in hospitals, which could be stopped by performing yoga,” he added.
He directed the authorities to maintain cleanliness and hygiene, provide drinking water, parking and transport facilities for those attending the event and assured to allocate necessary government funds besides suggesting to encourage people to register their names on the website and give importance for publicity by installing boards at appropriate places. Ministers G.T. Devegowda and C.S.?Puttaraju will participate in the programme, he added.
“For discussions on shifting Race Course and development of tourism in Mysuru to be held next week, every concerned official should be present. Apart from the heritage structures in Race Course, all illegal sheds should be demolished, if not, I will take the lead and will get it demolished,” the Minister said.
MLA Ramdas, who too spoke, said: “Already talks have been held with various Yoga Schools and organisations and about 75,000 participants are expected to participate. Discussions have been held to provide breakfast, drinking water and transportation like it was done last year.” He further said that last year, Tourism Dept. had co-operated well and this year Tourism Minister has assured the same.
MLA Ramdas submits memorandum
Earlier in the day, MLA Ramdas, who met Minister S.R. Mahesh at his residence in city, had presented a memorandum seeking his co-operation for the Yoga Day to be held in city.
Appealing the Minister to take part in IDY event, the memorandum urged the Minister to visit IDY venue and hold talks with the officials concerned for making the event a huge success.
It also urged the Minister to allow tourists to have a look at the functioning of the Silk Factory in city, as tourists were eager to know about the processes involved in making silk materials.
Ramdas, who was accompanied by Tourism Task Force and IDY Committee Members, felicitated the new Minister and wished him success.
why is this first time Minister for Tourism and Sericulture behaving as if he is the Chief Minister ? He says he will make it in to a botanical Garden etc. Is he is Horticulture Minister or PWD Minister ? Now he says he will demolish all illegal Buildings ? At the same time he acknowledges there are Heritage structures also ! The entire Race Course is a Heritage property not just the Grandstand ! As a Tourism Minister let him concentrate on his department and how to improve the Tourism infrastructure in the State not just Mysore. Let him first demolish illegal structures in world Heritage place lie Hampi. Based on such irresponsible utterances why are you saying MRC will be shifted when the issue is already before HC ? You should write articles on various Heritage Race Courses in the world and how the respective Countries are preserving and expose the hollowness of people who do not know a thing about Heritage .