The Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa is a good pay - master. More than being the Chief Executive Officer of the State, he is the Kubera, sitting on a treasure trough. At best it appears so.

With the economic boom that perked up since 1991, the State treasury too had been bulging till the global recession touched only lightly upon our economy. But there is enough money.

Thank God. And our Chief Minister is going about doling out funds to mutts, temples and other places of worship, to please all. With money in his treasury and money coming from the Centre under JNNURM, Yeddyurappa last Saturday, July 25, announced that the Chamundi Hill would be developed on the lines of Tirumala - Tirupathi temple.

I ask why Tirumala - Tirupathi model? Can't we think on our own? The deity is different, the topography of this hill is different and the people who visit the temple here too are different - a mix of tourists and pilgrims - unlike in Tirumala - Tirupathi where each visitor is a pilgrim. The area available for development too is restricted here unlike at Tirumala.

Why then imitate? Bankruptcy of new ideas, new thinking, new imagination, new vision? Does our Chief Minister want to destroy the Hill by making it a concrete jungle with guest houses? Already there are massive, ungainly structures built more to spend the "allocated" money rather than for any need. The fact these buildings housed monkeys and birds for many years is proof.

The Chief Minister spoke of the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Chamundi Hill that has already been prepared. Can I have a copy please? I asked ACICM Convener M. Lakshmana. He says the plan as it is now will turn the Hill into a concrete jungle with guest houses, shops and other structures in addition to those ugly ones already there. Soon the unwanted ropeway too will appear, he says.

But the point is, the Chamundi Hill covering the temple area certainly needs development. And the development should be restricted and should not be expansionist. The intention should be to make it a better place for tourists and the pilgrims alike with well - paved walking and open areas bordered with green hedges wherever possible. Remove all the unwanted mantaps, shanties and shops, temporary and permanent, built without any aesthetic sense. Shift them to other visitor - friendly location.

Our city planners and engineers seem to have gone crazy putting up all kinds of constructions in the name of infrastructure and facility, simply for the reason of spending the money that is allocated and thus get their share of commission.

Recently I read in an article that in many of the Western countries the city squares and open spaces do not flood during rains for the reason the area is paved with inter-locking stones or tiles that allow the water to be absorbed by the earth underneath unlike the concreted or asphalted road or area. Why not adopt it here around the temple and the parking area?

Our Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan, who is always on the fast - track, was quick in responding to the Chief Minister's announcement by taking his officials up the Hill climbing the 1000 steps leading to the temple area via the monolithic Nandi. I wonder what each of the officials must have thought about developing this uphill path to the Devi using up the JNNURM funds. From our experience it could be said none would have thought of saving some money from the generous allocation of funds, but would come up with ideas where their estimate would overshoot and a supplementary grant would be sought.

Incidentally, I understand there are many government agencies that have their own interest in Chamundi Hill working at cross - purpose. There is the Village Panchayat, there is the Forest Department, there is the Muzrai Department, there is the Tourism Department, there is the District Authority and God knows who else. Too many cooks indeed are heading towards spoiling the broth.

I wonder what our elected representatives are doing for developing our city in the right direction with a vision. Officials, except Manivannan, don't seem to be enthused in making Mysore a better place to live and a tourist destination of world class.

Let me give one example to prove my point:

About two years back under JNNURM Rs.30 crore was given to the Heritage Department office, which is located here in city. Not a paisa was spent nor a Comprehensive Development Plan was prepared to protect and preserve the heritage character of our city, which is at present facing the threat of destruction. Pleading helplessness, the Heritage Department told the MCC point - blank its inability to utilise the fund.

According to Lakshmana, the work was then entrusted to UNESCO to assess and prepare a comprehensive plan for which UNESCO had asked two months time. The UNESCO team will look into the Heritage Circles, VIP Houses, Heritage Roads, Branding, known as GIs (Geographical Indications) tag etc. In fact, of the 61 GI products registered in the country during the last five years, Karnataka has claimed a lion's share of 23 GIs.

There are nine products from Mysore that have got GI tags namely Mysore Silk, Mysore agarbathis (incense sticks), Mysore rosewood inlay, Mysore sandalwood oil, Mysore sandal soap, Mysore traditional paintings, Mysore betel leaf, Mysore jasmine and Nanjangud banana. Are we not proud of this position among other States and cities?

I wonder if any one of our elected representatives or a member of an NGO, with the honourable exception of ACICM Lakshmana, has involved himself in restoring the heritage status of Mysore.

Consider the fate of a bus stand at Chamundi Hill. I understand Rs.13.6 crore is the fund available under JNNURM for its construction and the project has been entrusted to the Tourism Department. Similarly the work of improving the choultry (Dasoha Bhavana), laying inter-locking tiles etc. There is no progress, nay; the project did not take off at all, though two years have passed. Rs.85.5 crore is idly remaining in the kitty as dead money. Bankers would call this as Non - Performing Asset (NPA). We may call this as Non - Performing Money if you like. Like our Non - Performing elected representatives, government officers, social activists and NGOs.

For the bus stand, 5 acres of land was required. However, the Forest Department, under whose jurisdiction the whole Chamundi Hill falls, except the Temple area, has refused to release the 5 acres required for the bus stand. There is also a stay order from the Court. Well, it is the Government of Karnataka which controls the Forest Department, it is the Government of Karnataka which controls the Tourism Department and yet there seems to be no co - ordination among these Government Departments.

I have seen many situations where the government is asking its own Implementing Agency to do the impossible. It gives the project and money to the Implementing Agency but not the land or the permission from its own Departments like Environment, Pollution Board etc., to begin the work. It is like asking the Implementing Agency to prepare an omelette without breaking an egg.