The Deccan Herald 23.11.2010
Illegal construction at race course alleged
Mysore, Nov 22, DHNS:
MCC flouting rules to build stables; symbolic protest planned on Nov 29
MLA Sa Ra Mahesh urged the State government to take possession of land belonging to the Mysore Race Course (MRC) as per the lease agreement signed with the government expired in 2006.
At a press conference here on Monday, he alleged that 600 stables being constructed illegally at the race course, should be stopped immediately. Mahesh wanted the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) to revoke the permissionbeing given to MRC.
Mahesh observed that as per the ruling of the Supreme Court (SC), no construction is allowed on leased land. However, the MCC is flouting the rules, he added.
He alleged that the Public Works Department, influential politicians and bureaucrats had given orders to the MCC to give permission for the above work. He criticised the district administration’s claims of recovering `4-5 crores of government property, while the race course worth thousands of crores was cleverly forgotten.
Until 1996, the race course was paying `2 lakh annually to the government. Later, until 2006, `2.75 lakh was paid as rent. But, Mahesh mentioned that no rent is being paid now.
He said that former DC Manivannan had suggested that the race course should pay `32.15 crore as rent. But the government has failed to take it into consideration, he added.
When the race course moved court demanding transfer of land, the latter contended that the land belonged to the government. Furthermore, it’s direction to reclaim the land has been neglected by the government, he said.
Mahesh demanded an investigation by the CoD into the issue. He said that a symbolic protest will be held on November 29.
