Mysore is one of the lucky cities to be chosen to be included to receive grants under centrally promoted Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. NURM commenced in 2005 and is expected to be completed in 2012. One of the main goals of NURM is to promote public participation through investment and also in advisory capacity. Both are absent in Mysore.
Mysoreans have been totally indifferent since its inception. Mysore’s several NGOs like CII, Builder’s Association, Rotary, Lions, Chamber of Commerce, etc have taken little interest in the development or implementation of NURM. Management Colleges, Mysore University, retired and working professionals including retired vice chancellors should have taken active part in NURM. Their non-involvement is very conspicuous. These are the very people who criticize our politicians for all the wrongs of our society. When an opportunity is handed over a golden platter, not many come forward to take part. In the case of NURM, this is going to cost Mysore a lot.
Of the initiatives taken so far, contracting Vani Vilas Water Works to JUSCO was the best so far. Unfortunately because of the bungling by the authorities in not communicating with the public, it unnecessarily gave rise to a controversy. Now NURM committee has taken few steps like putting some information on the web at www.jnnurm.mysorecity.gov.in , creating a blog for getting feedback, inviting public to attend review meetings etc. These should help. But much more is needed.
So far NURM committee under the supervision of Special Officer has submitted projects worth Rs 1296 which have been approved (see details below) and there are Rs 614 crores worth of projects pending with NURM approval committee at the center. Amount released so far is Rs. 221 crores. Mysore City Corporation has spent so far Rs. 103 cores.
At a broad level, one cannot find fault with the priorities attached to different projects. NURM has the mission of improving slums and helping the poor in Mysore. Allocating large amount to Road and transportation, Sewerage, water and slum development is appropriate. However the planning and efforts which have gone into the development of city development plan (CDP), collection of data to prepare such plans, basic assumption of population growth, slum population, traffic density, property tax collection, financial viability of MCC etc are deplorable. This is despite the use of consultants. It is unfortunate that despite Mysore being blessed with the presence of several experts and professionals in these areas, there has not been much involvement.
City is already drowned in garbage. It is not obvious that mere allocation of Rs 30 crores for solid waste handling is enough. Based on my observations of what other cities are spending for solving solid waste problem, I feel that NURM committee has not developed appropriate long term strategies to solve this critical problem.
In the case of slum development, projects, construction of about 6000 houses will not even begin to help the slum dwellers. Again no creative energy has been tapped to come up with out of the box type of ideas to improve slums. When these new houses are constructed Mysore would have added even more migrant population and we will be back to the old situation. We have not thought of beautifying the slums and make the living there more enjoyable by having parks, open spaces, community halls, clinics, hospitals, better school facilities, sparkling toilets, etc. The same old and outdated strategy of building third rate poorly designed houses is implemented. This does not amount to any slum development. This is not even vote bank politics.
How does buying of high tech buses help solve the traffic problem of the city? KSRTC is supposed to be a viable corporation which should raise its own capital. Why should funds which are expected to improve Mysore city be given to them to buy buses? There is no proper survey or projection of what will happen to Mysore’s traffic and ad hoc system is applied to spend money on road and transport problems. If real experts (not some activists who always claim to have solutions to every problem) are consulted it is not clear from the CDP.
There is not enough information on what will be done to preserve lakes, improve parks, promote tourism and preserve heritage sites. It is in this area experts and professionals should get involved even at this late stage. Finally NURM committee has decided to form an advisory committee of experts to guide and monitor the implementation of mind boggling amount of Rs. 1800 crores by 2012. Mysore City Corporation has never spent more than Rs 100 crores in any year. Investing this huge amount in less than three and a half years will be a Herculean task even for an efficient and well managed organization. Mysore’s professionals have the responsibility to help NURM committee and not leave it only to activists and politicians who may have different agendas.
Bhamy V Shenoy, Convener, Mysore Grahakara Parishat