Peeved by the delay and lack of focus regarding the projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), officials of the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) met the Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy and apprised him of the need to expedite the projects. Only six projects have been sanctioned for Mysore so far while 12 are pending before the authorities.

Mayor Ayub Khan and Superintending Engineer of MCC Prabhakar D. Hamigi, who were in Hyderabad to attend a workshop met Mr. Reddy and briefed him on the delay in securing approval for projects meant for Mysore.

Though the MCC signed a MoU with the Union Government on December 15, 2006, only six projects have been approved so far. This includes remodelling of drinking water distribution network, Kabini drinking water supply scheme, improvement of slums, development of transport infrastructure and upgrading of the outer ring road. Of these, the Kabini drinking water supply has been blocked due to technical reasons as it concerns other riparian States and the project may have to be revised. Mr. Khan urged Mr. Reddy and M. Ramachandra, Secretary, Urban Development, Government of India, to expedite the works.

Of the 12 pending projects, the MCC has tried to secure approval for five projects to be implemented by it. This includes development of integrated municipal solid waste system at an estimated cost of Rs.34.85 crore, remodelling of the storm water drain for Mysore at an estimated cost of Rs.356.20 crore, and conservation of eight natural lakes at a total cost of approximately Rs.13 crore. The project pertaining to development of integrated municipal solid waste plant was submitted on December 28, 2007 while the remodelling of the storm water drain project has been hanging fire since March 11, 2008. The Kabini drinking water project has not made any progress though it was submitted on August 28, 2006. The project on conservation of natural lakes was submitted in April this year. Another project is the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) which was expected to ease traffic congestion. Though Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) conducted a feasibility study and the Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka (IDECK) prepared a project report and submitted the same to the Union Government, the Central Sanctioning Monitoring Committee (CSMS) of the Ministry of Urban Development put a spanner in the works and deferred it indefinitely.