[ಕನ್ನಡ ಅನುವಾದ ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ಬರಲಿದೆ — Kannada translation coming soon]
only a fraction of the expense that the heli-tourism like projects would incur. When Mysuru’s environmentalists put an online a petition to oppose helipad near Lalit Mahal Hotel, it went viral. In two days, it got nearly 40000 signatures and as of writing this article has exceeded 50000. It is unusual to get such an overwhelming support from netizens. This clearly shows the keen interest of the public to protect environment and especially trees, as revealed by the analysis of the comments expressed by signatories. At the other extreme are promoters like the former President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry who condemned the activists for putting such an online petition. Instead they were urging the public to lend support to the tourist minister. What an irony! Vegetation around Lalit Mahal hotel which is adjacent to the Chamundi Hill, does not consist of hundred year old trees. But it is home to 180 species of butterflies. They include the State Butterfly which is Southern Birdwing, the biggest in India. Besides there are many rare ones like Malabar Banded Peacock, Scarce Shot Silverline, Indigo Flash, etc. in addition there is also the annual migration of the Blue Tiger, Common Crow, Albatross Butterflies from the Western ghats to Mysuru during the rainy seasons. They arrive mainly because of about 40 species of host plants which are important for the breeding of butterflies. This area could be considered as a ‘natural museum’ of butterflies. This place is also the sanctuary for several types of birds; a fact which is not appreciated even by most Mysureans. By one count there are 77 different types of birds all through the year. They include important winter visitors like the Golden oriole, Brown shrike, Warblers, Gray wagtail etc., was also the common birds like Barbets, kingfishers, Gray Hornbill, Parakeets etc. to name a few. As mentioned earlier, by preserving this space as a natural museum of butterflies and birds, Mysuru can attract more tourists than through heli-tourism which will only end up destroying this vegetation if the tourism minister succeeds in his proposed plan. It will not be out of context to give the example of Dubai where an indoor butterfly museum is attracting thousands of tourists (including Indians). Any
day a natural museum like the one which Mysuru is fortunate to have will attract even more tourists if developed further and is given wide publicity. India has assured the UN to increase India’s green coverage to 30%. This is another reason for the environment minister to plant even more tress near Lalit Mahal Hotel. Clearing the vegetation near Lalit Mahal Hotel to build another helipad is tantamount to a criminal act when we need to increase green coverage on a war footing. If the tourism minister is ‘desperate’ to promote heli-tourism, he could consider at least three other alternatives. One is to request the Wadiyar family to lease the existing place. Second, is to build one on a vacant land available at the nearby exhibition ground. Landing space required is only about 10000 square feet. The third alternative is to use Mandakalli Airport. All over the world, airports are used for helicopter landing and Mysur’s airport is not all that far away. Will Sri. Yogeeswara wearing the hat of environment ministry convince the promoters to give up the battle Royale, and join environmentalists to promote Mysuru as a tourist paradise? (Bhamy V. Shenoy is former founding working President of Mysore Grahakara Parishat ) (April 2021) Encroachment of Rajakaluve: Should it become an “Agni Pravesh” test? There is no end to how politicians are able to play political games to hoodwink the public. In the latest drama being played in Mysuru of transferring two IAS officers, the second act has started. The first act ended with the transfer of two key officials charged with the responsibility of managing the pandemic. Most elected leaders are happy with the outcome of the first act. But the public is unhappy and apprehensive of what may happen to our ability to fight the war against the virus. Does government really care? In addition the public is equally unhappy that with the departure of the DC, Rohini Sindhuri attempts by the district administration to expose the land grabbing by politicians may also end. The second act has started with one of the politicians going on strike in front of the Regional Commissioner’s office demanding the proof of his encroachment on Rajakaluve. According to the media report he is ready to
hand over the Kalyan Mantap to the government if it is proved that it is constructed on Rajakaluve. He has also announced that if found guilty, he would retire from politics. This sounds like a “Agni Pravesh” test to prove his innocence. But is it? Public must have been surprised to learn that Regional Commissioner has agreed to conduct the survey and submit the report in just three days. When was the last time government machinery has moved so fast to complete such an investigation? One may claim that it is not a big task to complete the survey if all the papers are readily available. In this case papers are indeed available in Mysuru itself. Still it has raised doubts about the unusual gesture on the part of the public that why the regional commissioner has agreed to complete the investigation at ‘internet’ speed. What is even more startling is the fact that of the several irregularities mentioned by the DC, why the MLA has picked only the charge where he feels he is on strong ground. What the DC has stated is that based on Vijay Bhaskar’s report she has found various attempts by some political leaders to grab land illegally and they should be looked into. In the likely event, MLA is found innocent in the case of “Rajakaluve”, should we infer that all other allegations by DC are also false or untenable. This is what the MLA expects the second act to end with. How the third act of this tragic drama will unravel will depend on how the public will get involved in this drama. We need to get hold of the Vijay Bhaskar report and start doing our investigation. Simultaneously we need to demand the government to constitute a commission to look into the allegations of the former DC, Rohini Sindhuri. If the government fails to act, then an NGO like MGP should file a PIL in the High Court. It may be useful to narrate how MGP took active part in exposing the corruption involved in giving a contract to a private group to construct a library in people’s park. MGP’s timely involvement in filing a PIL finally prevented the complete destruction of people’s park. Though MGP did not succeed in preventing the construction of a library in violation of the park’s act, it did succeed in saving major part of the park. Let us hope that MGP will succeed this time in exposing the attempts of land grabbers of Mysuru. (Jun 2021)