Mysuru heritage conservation, visitor safety and future urban planning must progress together, Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar said at a media interaction, calling for a framework that protects the city’s historic buildings while allowing development to continue.
Speaking at a programme organised by the district journalists’ association, Yaduveer said Mysuru had already expanded considerably and that development could not be stopped. However, he said heritage protection should remain a priority alongside growth. The MP said the city had many heritage buildings that needed to be developed and protected, adding that authorities should not wait until such structures collapsed before taking action.
He also called for a suitable framework for Mysuru’s future development and urged political representatives to work together in the interest of the constituency and the city, despite their differences.
The MP linked the city’s heritage and tourism economy to the management of the Dasara festival. He said public safety and orderly arrangements should remain a priority during the festival and in the days after the Vijayadashami procession, when tourists continue to visit Mysuru. He referred to incidents reported in the palace premises during the previous year and said the authorities should take necessary safety measures.
Yaduveer said the palace had a defined capacity and that visitors should not be allowed inside beyond that limit. He suggested issuing only as many passes as the available seating capacity and said an online or QR code-based transparent system could reduce problems and improve the visitor experience.
He opposed organising Kambala during Dasara, saying there had also been opposition to the event among members of the public. According to him, the authorities should focus on conducting traditional Dasara programmes properly instead of adding new events. He also said the festival should not be described as a “simple Dasara” because of drought conditions, arguing that it supports the local economy.
Yaduveer said tourists visiting for the festival benefit hotels, taxi operators, street vendors and other local businesses. His remarks placed festival management within a wider urban system involving public safety, visitor capacity, mobility and the earnings of small businesses linked to tourism.
On the proposed Mahisha Dasara at Chamundi Hill, the MP said he did not oppose programmes that respected everyone’s sentiments but wanted organisers to clarify the ideological purpose behind the event. He reiterated that his position was that Mahisha Dasara should not be held at Chamundi Hill.
The MP also said he was working to secure Group C and Group D employment opportunities for local residents in central government institutions located in the city. On drought relief due from the Centre to Karnataka, he said assistance would be provided in accordance with the guidelines and suggested that surveys at the hobli level, rather than only at the district level, could better reflect ground realities for compensation.
Yaduveer said there was no official information confirming that the Prime Minister would attend the proposed October 24 inauguration of the LED curved-dome planetarium under construction in Mysuru. He said construction of the facility was nearly complete, but added that formal confirmation about the inauguration had not been received.
He also promised a grant of ₹25 lakh from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme for construction of a new building for the district journalists’ association. The programme was attended by association office-bearers and members.
