Following the state government’s decision to postpone the establishment of the Greater Mysuru City Corporation due to insufficient population, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has now put forth a new proposal to the government to elevate the existing corporation to grade 1 MCC.
This proposal seeks to enhance MCC to a grade 1 city corporation, akin to the Hubballi-Dharwad City Corporation, by integrating the City Municipal Council and the town panchayats situated on the periphery of the city. The state government is expected to endorse this proposal.
In this context, MCC has submitted a proposal to the state urban development department, following directives from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. As per the guidelines set by the Union government, a minimum population of 2.5 million is necessary for the elevation of a city corporation to a greater city corporation.
Over the past few years, various organizations, stakeholders, and local elected officials have been advocating for the government to upgrade the civic body in a manner similar to the BBMP by merging the Hootagally City Municipal Council with the town panchayats of Kadakola, Srirampura, Bogadi, and Rammanahalli, which are located on the outskirts of Mysuru.
They argue that such actions would facilitate the acquisition of additional grants from the Union government for the anticipated development of the city and enhance tourism, trade, and employment opportunities. Given that the current population of Mysuru will not surpass 1.6 million even after the merger of Hootagally CMC and the four town panchayats, the state government has expressed interest in upgrading MCC to grade 1 MCC, similar to the Hubli-Dharwad City Corporation, which has emerged as the second-largest corporation in the state following BBMP in Bengaluru.
In an interview , MCC Deputy Commissioner (Development) Dasegowda stated that a proposal in this regard has been submitted to the state government, which is anticipated to approve it imminently. He noted that upgrading MCC to a grade 1 city corporation would not only assist in securing additional funds and special grants for such a corporation from both the Union and state governments.
Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda stated that it would facilitate the swift development of Mysuru and enhance trade and commerce. The four town panchayats along with Hootagally CMC are situated within the Chamundeshwari constituency. The MLA emphasized that in order to ensure the planned growth of the city, it is essential to upgrade the MCC to a grade 1 city corporation. He urged the government to make this decision promptly and to hold elections for the newly established civic body. The tenure of the elected body of the MCC concluded on November 14, 2023.
