IT township to be featured in Budget

A proposal to promote tourism in the five districts around Mysore was likely to be announced in the Budget

Mysore may get a boost if some proposals, including an IT townshp, are included in the forthcoming state budget.

An IT Park has been proposed on about 1,500 acres identified for the purpose on the outskirts of the city. The land for the purpose has been identified at three places and the best is likely to be chosen for the project.

Revealing this, District Incharge Minister S A Ramadas told a pre-budget meeting with stakeholders of Mysore today, subsequent to the plea by the IT sector in the Tier II city, the proposal had been made out and the same was likely to be announced in the state budget to be presented by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on February 8. A plea has been made to the Chief Minister in this regard.

Similarly, he said, a proposal to promote tourism in the five districts around Mysore was likely to be announced in the Budget. He admitted that the entry tax for tourist vehicles entering the state was high. However, the government was unlikely to effect a cut, as being demanded by the tourist sector here.

Mysore is gaining importance as an major tourist centre attracting more tourists. However, infrastructural facilities are owefully inadequate. Another facility that is mooted is to facilitate export of goods from industrial areas in and around Mysore. The Chief Minister has been requested to include this project also in the State Budget to give a boost to industries and exports from Mysore district.

A few more proposals that would be sought to be included in the Budget include an independent Tourism Heritage Exhibition and Nada Habba Authority and Rs 2 crore for the development of the Mysore Paints and Varnishes.

Setting up of seven more medical colleges in the State has already been approved by the Cabinet and awaits approval by the Medical Council of India. This was also likely to be included in the State Budget, Ramadas added.

State-holders made a number of suggestions including a separate industrial town-ship for management of industrial areas around the city, special attention to promote tourism and tourism-related activities and infrastructure improvement.