The Hindu    25.08.2012

MCC to ring in 150th year

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar will inaugurate the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Mysore City Corporation at the Kalamandira here on August 28.

A poster depicting the logo to mark the yearlong celebrations was launched by president of the Publicity Committee for the anniversary celebrations M.V. Ramprasad, corporator.

Cleanliness drive

He told presspersons here on Friday that a cleanliness drive would be taken up in all 65 wards on August 25 to spruce up the city for the grand celebrations.

The next significant part would be organising sports and games at the Chamundi Vihar stadium here on August 26, Mr. Ramprasad said. A cricket match would be played between corporators and MCC officials. Winners would take on the Mysore District Journalists Association team in the finals.

The corporators and employees of the MCC would present a variety of cultural programmes at the Kalamandira after 2 p.m. on August 28. The dais of the Kalamandira would be named after Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.

MCC Commissioner M.R. Ravi told The Hindu that efforts were on to invite a Union Minister for the inauguration. Programmes for the entire year were being worked out, he said.

The valedictory function would be organised on the 150th day of the celebrations as the term of the council ends in February, Mr. Ravi said.Non-governmental organisations, public, and students would be involved in the cleanliness drive, he said.

Austerity measures

Mr. Ravi has initiated austerity measures to fill the coffers of the city corporation. He has ordered withdrawal of 10 cars, which were being outsourced by the corporation for the benefit of some officials. A sum of Rs. 18,000 was being charged by private parties to outsource a car every month. Mr. Ravi said the vehicles were being used by MCC officials, who were not eligible for it, for the last three years. The MCC found it difficult to make payments to outsourced employees. Withdrawal of cars would cut down on unnecessary expenditure, he said. He had also ordered termination of services (outsourced employees) of 32 security personnel. Most of the security personnel were not found to be working. The financial health of the MCC was unsatisfactory when he took over nearly two months ago, Mr. Ravi said.When his attention was drawn to the collection of parking fee on the MCC premises, Mr. Ravi said he would inquire into it.