MP Pratap Simha said Mysureans will soon get piped gas connection like their counterparts in Bengaluru.
Addressing a meeting of citizens, organised by Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), here, recently, he said, “Although piped gas connection will meet the requirement of industrial consumers first, residential consumers will get the gas supply later. This will end our travails of booking for gas cylinder, waiting for the cylinder, demand for delivery charges and the need to connect the cylinder to the burners often.”
In reply to a question, why the government cannot ban tobacco crop, he said, we have the moral right to prevent tobacco crop, but only when we can show the farmers an alternative crop, even though we know how harmful tobacco is to our health. Though Simha was critical of the MP’s Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund, since it is often misused, he was not in favour of scrapping it. “In fact, the current amount of Rs 5 crore should be increased to Rs 25 crore to support worthy causes in one’s constituency,” he said.
The MP was critical of the way in which the 24X7 water supply project was executed by JUSCO and other JNNURM projects. “Funds have been misappropriated by the officials and political leaders concerned,” the MP said.
Simha discussed how he is using the funds available under AMRUTH to revamp water tanks in Mysuru, which will improve the water supply situation in the city. He discussed the status of the Unduwadi project and how it would provide long-term solution to the problems of Mysuru and nearby towns.
While responding to questions on highway expansion, failure to take the cause of Mysuru’s heritage, construction of Garuda Mall, working of MCC and MUDA, he explained how corruption is rampant and how elected representatives, who have become real estate developers, are ruining the city. On the question about creating more jobs, Simha said, he is striving to improve connectivity, by improving airport facilities, introducing faster and more trains to Mysuru, reducing the time to reach Mysuru, by providing faster and shorter road transportation, etc.
On a proposal to provide safe driving at the junction of Valmiki and Hunsur roads, he explained how a former MCC commissioner allowed illegal occupation of the land belonging to CFTRI by some religious institution and how it has created the problem. He agreed to convene a meeting to make Mysuru a plastic-free city and also to discuss the problems due to the construction of a multi-level parking and commercial complex, which is destroying the ecology, atop the Chamundi Hill.
In reply to a question on Mysuru getting the world heritage site tag, the MP assured that he will work with experts to chalk out plans to secure such a recognition from UNESCO.