Will take delegation to CM, seeking funds for conservation: Mayor

Mysuru: Amid mounting concerns over the fate of the many heritage structures in Mysuru city, mayor M Shivakumar on Thursday said that a delegation of corporators with him at its head would call on chief minister Basavaraj Bommai seeking funds for the restoration and preservation of the historic buildings dotting the cityscape.
The mayor said that MLC CN Manjegowda had already drawn tourism minister Anand Singh’s attention to the plight of the city’s heritage structures, with whom he had discussed the need to conserve the visible relics of Mysuru’s history. “I will meet the CM either on Friday or Saturday, and ask for an immediate disbursement of Rs 300 crore towards the conservation of heritage structures. We want him to announce the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore towards the restoration and conservation of historic structures,” Shivakumar said.
He added that the department of archaeology, museums, and heritage, had agreed to undertake repair of ‘Dodda Gadiyara (Silver Jubilee Clock Tower)’. “Initially, a sum of Rs 35 lakh was disbursed towards the restoration of the heritage structure, and the department has now sought an additional Rs 15 lakh, and we are confident of the amount being released soon,” the mayor said.
He added that a ‘pink toilet’ would be built on D Devaraj Urs Road owing to the lack of lavatories on the road. Shivakumar pointed out that a large number of women were employed at the stores on the road, who did not have a dedicated lavatory. He said that he had discussed the issue with the MCC commissioner.