The Hindu 01.12.2010
Nod to renovate three markets in Mysore
Special Correspondent
| MCC Council decides to take up the works in a phased manner |
Existing facade of the century-old Devaraja Market will not be disturbed
Vani Vilas Market and Mandi Market to be rebuilt
MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) Council has given its approval for rebuilding and restoring Devaraja Market, Mandi Market and Vani Vilas Market in the city with Government funding.
It has also been decided not to disturb the existing facade of the century-old Devaraja Market while restoring the building to its original glory. Development works will, however, be taken up within the complex.
At the MCC Council meeting held here on Tuesday, councillors welcomed the decision to rebuild and restore the three markets. However, there were differences on whether the works should be taken up under public private partnership (PPP) model or by the MCC itself.
The project entails an investment of nearly Rs. 35 crore to Rs. 40 crore of which Rs. 8.8 crore is expected to be the cost of rebuilding the Vani Vilas Market while work on the Mandi Market is expected to cost Rs. 12.36 crore.
The work on the Devaraja Market has two models. The first one includes restoration and construction two cellars for vehicle parking which will cost the MCC around Rs. 27 crore while the second model does not include construction of cellars which will cost around Rs. 12.61 crore.
Feasibility
The council discussed the feasibility of taking up the works under the PPP model. Initially, the members spoke in its favour by citing the examples of various works undertaken by the MCC that have remained incomplete. Councillor Nandish Preetham said that incompletion of Mayura complex and Woodlands complex works was a testimony to the inefficiency of the MCC and batted for PPP model.
But Nagendra of the BJP argued that MCC's prime property if leased for 20 to 30 years would be as good as lost for posterity and challenged the authorities to provide a single example of property recovered by the corporation (by changing khata) after the expiry of lease period.
He cited the bus terminal-cum-complex constructed by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) as an example of the State's efficiency and said the projected earnings for KSRTC was in excess of Rs. 4 crore a year against only Rs. 3 crore being offered to the MCC under the PPP model.
A few other members referred to the 24x7 drinking water project being implemented by Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company Ltd. (JUSCO) and said there was no accountability and elected representatives were unhappy with its performance.
MCC Commissioner K.S. Raykar clarified the concepts of PPP and BOOT for the benefit of councillors and said it was a Union Government's directive that local bodies should take up works entailing capital expenditure under the PPP model.
Supporting the PPP model, he said revenue raised by the MCC through property tax, etc. should be utilised for providing civic amenities and not for constructing complexes. But the members said they could take it up with the Chief Minister's special grant of Rs. 100 crore for Mysore.
The former Mayor Ayub Khan said the market renovation project would remain a pipedream if the MCC was going to depend on the one-time release of Rs. 100 crore for Mysore, following which it was decided to approach the Chief Minister to seek additional allocation.
It was decided in the meeting to take up the works in a phased manner after taking the tenants into confidence.
