Palace will finally see sound and light show

The sound and light programme of the Mysore Palace that has seen many a controversy, is back in the news again — this time for the right reasons.

“All steps have been taken to launch the much-expected programme for public viewing before the Dasara,” said deputy commissioner and executive officer of the Mysore Palace Board Harsh Gupta.

Mooted in 2003, when S M Krishna was the chief minister, the son-et-lumiere was supposed to have commenced in 2004 but was put off for several reasons. The show was first demonstrated before the officials of the Tourism Department and a group of journalists in July 2007. However, the script took a controversial turn.

It was expected to be relaunched during the 2008 Dasara with a revised script. But, it was deferred once again, with criticisms blocking the show. Subsequently, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and other dignitaries had viewed it and opined that its script needed to be edited, with certain additions and deletions. Now, it is in the news again with the controversy said to have been resolved finally.

The deputy commissioner has also announced a slew of measures to tighten security around the palace which attracts a record number of visitors annually as many as 2.77 million in 2009-10 and increasing daily, and to provide facilities for these increasing numbers.

The Palace Board has decided to replace the 635 high power consuming different wattage lamps in the Palace with eco-friendly and power-saving LED lamps at an estimated cost of Rs 77 lakh. According to them, this will conserve 20,000 units of power a month and save ' 1.5 lakh on the power bill, besides reducing maintenance cost. The work will be completed in about a month.

Steps have been taken to set up a three-dimensional multimedia museum at the palace for a 30-minute presentation on its history and tourist spots in and around Mysore for tourists.

Tenders will be invited soon to erect automatic gates for avoiding any delay for visitors while entering the Palace. As part of the steps to provide infrastructure for visitors, toilets are being upgraded to international standards at a cost of Rs 30 lakh and would be put into service soon.

The tender for erecting electric fencing around the Palace fort has been completed. Gupta said the work has been entrusted to the Electronic Corporation of India, Hyderabad, a Government of India agency.