Govt in touch with UNESCO to get heritage city tag to Mysore

Karnataka government is in touch with UNESCO to get Mysore declared as a heritage city, and also planning to take eco-friendly measures in this "pensioner's paradise".

Urban development minister S Suresh Kumar, who is also in-charge of Mysore district, said the heritage city tag would enable the State to attract more funds from the Centre and do more for Mysore.

He also said local authorities are thinking of promoting "Tongas" (horse carts) as "chariots" for tourist attraction in Mysore.

Mysore was once famous for Tongas -- main transport during the reign of erstwhile Maharajas -- before the advent of urban sprawl and motorised transport gathered momentum, and their numbers have dwindled now.

Local officials in Mysore said there is a proposal to restrict vehicular traffic within two km radius of the world-famous Mysore Palace and promote Tongas as a main mode of transport there.

"We will come out with a blue-print for development of Mysore soon", Suresh Kumar said.

A British high commission delegation yesterday visited Mysore and held discussions with local officials offering expertise in energy efficiency solutions, solid waste management, lowering carbon footprint, among others.

The three-member delegation, including British deputy high commissioner to India Richard Hyde and Secretary, Climate Change and Energy, Serguss Auld, today met Suresh Kumar, who supported their initiative in this regard.

Auld said software major Infosys Technologies, which has a huge campus in Mysore, is keen to associate itself in the proposed action plan to make Mysore a green city.

The idea is to make Mysore cleaner and greener, he said.