But the reality is different. Many “next years” have gone by. The library has remained a mirage even after 33 years when efforts first started in earnest to build a proper library, The way we are progressing now, we may not have it for the foreseeable future. One important reason for our failure is our inability to think out of the box. Why should we think that People’s Park is the only place where library can be built even if it violates the Park Act? Another reason is that honey pot which was there earlier for politically connected to build the library in people’s park is not there. When the city can afford Rs 80 crores or more to build multi-level parking in Chamundi, can’t we afford say Rs 10 crores to build a world class library befitting Mysore? Third reason is the deafening silence on the part of professionals. While some of us are ever ready to protest against the construction of the library in the People’s Park, why have we failed to put pressure on the political establishment to build it in other more suitable sites? MGP has identified other locations where library can be built. There is an urgent need to mobilize public opinion. We need to sell the idea to elected leaders on the critical importance of having a world class library with all modern facilities where seminars can be held, computers are provided, easy parking place, easy access to books through digitization, etc. Good library in a city is essential for the poor and the middle class. Rich can afford to buy books, magazines and news papers. Why are those political leaders whose heart always bleeds to help the poor have ignored the poor in this case? Even the private schools in our city do not have good libraries. Lack of resources is a lame reason. A city whose annual budget exceeds Rs 860 crores, can easily be able to find funds to build a library. Also property owners while paying annual taxes have been paying library cess every year. That accumulated itself should be more than adequate to support building a library. Typical library in Riverside, NY, a small town in the US where children from 5 years to old people over 85 use regularly – a temple of knowledge.
Thousands of parents of NRIs from Mysore regularly visit developed world visiting their children. During those visits, many cannot avoid visiting libraries since those are the most pleasant places to spend time joyfully after getting tried of the shopping malls. At that time they must have wondered how nice it would have been to have such facilities in Mysore. If only some of them come forward now and get involved in a movement, library instead of remaining a mirage may become a reality in Mysore. May 3, 2017 Water Crisis: Need For Mysore Water Committee to find a permanent long term solution. Bhamy V. Shenoy Mysoreans have been facing water crisis just about every year during the last 25 years. Irrespective of whether rains have failed or not, we have been facing water crisis. We know that we should not allow a crisis to go to waste. Still we the people have consistently failed to make use of the water crisis to find permanent solution. Mysore though semi-arid (about 80 CM of average annual rain fall) is blessed with two rivers (Kaveri and Kabini) and two reservoirs (KRS and Kabini). Our pumping capacity at Hongally, Belagola, Melapur and Kabini is 302 million liters per day. This should be more than adequate to meet our requirement of 160 to 170 MLD provided we have minimum leakage in distribution system, pumps in good working conditions, dependable power supply, honest and efficient meter reading and revenue collection system, and technically competent management. Because of control by MCC, Vani Vilas Water Works has failed to meet any of the above criteria to have 24X7 water supply, a gift given to us by Sir. M. Visveswaraya, one of the most illustrious diwans of Mysore. To add insult to injury there is no appreciation or desire on the part of the city fathers to find solution to these problems excepting to shout during the council meetings how the residents are complaining to them about poor water supply and then to blame the staff. In a functioning democracy, they would have been driven by the fear of being voted out. It was in late 80s, Karnataka Government handed over VVWW to MCC. Till then it was managed by Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB). However during the time of P Viswanath as mayor, he