There has been a lot of mud slinging between government and other organisations; too many petty quarrels over the water issue. Perhaps, NGOs should, occasionally, help the government in city improvement. Newspaper reports speak of NGO's involvement in constructing public toilets. A good gesture. Maybe the NGO could also look into the many toilets in public places which are either not being used or misused. NGOs could chip in with assistance for their upkeep. Most of us are aware of the financial situation of the Mysore City Corporation.I think it will be a good idea if industrialists, NGO's and others can get together, come up with a blue print to renovate Vani vilas Market, Devaraja Market, Landowne buildings or construct Makkaji Chowk complex , …etc. If the NGO's and others can pitch in some expert assistance by way of project reports, costing, and even some funds for these purposes, and work with the government, this will help sustain heritage, of which we have have heard so many talking so much about the city corporation doing so little.
I agree with Ms. Pratibha, too much mud slinging between some NGO's and the Government. For the betterment of the City, we all need to put down our individual egos and agendas and come together and see how best we can protect our heritage structures. For the record, actually off the record, there are blue prints to the markets available at the University of Mysore and the recommendation for restoration of the Vani Vilas market, Lansdowne Building, Devaraja Market, even Sita Vilasa Chatra have been made to the MCC by the Heritage Task Force Committee. The MCC is sitting tight on this for whatever reason. Once a master plan for the restoration of the structures is made together, the funding may be arranged. If it is for restoration, there are ways and means. Anyway, that said, a concerted effort must be made by all parties mentioned by Ms. Pratibha to help the City. After all, this is where we live and this is our city.
NGO's have done good service by constructing toilets in Mysore. Now they indeed have to move beyond toilets and get back into the open (with other pressing issues, I mean).
With this opening, I am sure the doubt about who will take care of the funding of restoration will be solved. The NGOs certainly will not fund any multistorey buildings - be it toilets or shopping complexes. This could be a boost to the movement for the restoration of the identified heritage guildings.
Fuad Lokhandwala's initiative through his organisation called Flumes of providing public conveniences,garbage disposal units and collection of waste is worthy of emulation.Delhi's example of prohibiting stand alone advertisement hoardings and allowing advertising which supports utilties such as bus stands,public conveniences is very helpful in raising resources.
The model works on the basis of a private operator being given land on lease, building a facility,fixing the charges that can be levied and allowing ahefty percentage of the advertising revenue ensures that the operator recovers his money over 3 years.
Do encourage the Mysore urban authorities to visit the toilets built by Fuad.
Quite right Mr. Prem. I don't know about Mumbaikars civic sense but let me tell you about Mysorean attitude, although this is not a basis to judge every person in Mysore. When one of our organizations built a new toilet for the public, we found that a lot of people did not even bother to go inside and use it, although this toilet facility is free and maintained well. We found some people using the outside wall to "pay their water taxes"!!! Not an isolated incident mind you.
Anyway, I think this blog is not about toilets. Quite the opposite in fact, I think the blog is about how NGO's have done well in giving this sort of service and how they should moving away to other pressing issues as well. What is MGP doing with respect to the D'market, what is ACICM doing, long silence from both. Is MCF that built the Tsunami houses in Muduliarkuppam an NGO or just a loose grouping that came together to help the needy?
I think we need to take every one along with respect to Mysore's heritage conservation. We need to get every one on the same table and this means all the NGO's (and individuals, corporates, MCC) who are really interested in taking Mysore forward to come together and let go of their egos and solve the problems. No force, if some of these NGO's are too busy with other issues of Mysore and sitting in protest all the time or want to go it alone, thats up to them.
Regarding raising money to fund conservation, corporates and government grants and so on can help. Lets all sit together and talk about this. Advertising revenue is not going to be the ideal way. Heritage buildings are not bus shelters and toilets and we cannot let ads cover the edifice. In fact, one of the things we need to discuss is that a code must be issued to occupants of heritage buildings including the devaraja market that name boards for the shops and any advertising must be approved by the heritage committee and should be standardized. Lareg ugly sign boards hanging everywhere and painted horribly will only make the newly renovated structure look ugly.
