On the day of inauguration of the ten day Dasara festival on 30th September 2008, I received a telephone call from one Mr. Emmanuel, the Chief of Pyramid Holiday Tours, Bangalore, with a request that I should do something to restore the old glory of Mysore city the fountains.

He said he had enjoyed seeing about 7 to 8 fountains dancing their way into the hearts of the tourists adding to the enjoyment of Dasara. He named some of the important ones like the fountains at the Hardinge Circle, Highway Circle, Elgin Fountain as one enters Mysore from Bangalore, at the Ayurvedic Circle, at Agrahara, one opposite to Railway Station where now stands the statue of Jagjivan Ram, at the Metropole Circle and some minor ones.

He also drew my attention to the missing dome lights on the pillars on either side of the road at junctions all over the city.

According to him, these are the important symbols of a heritage city. These are the heritage tags that must be preserved. Apparently, his disappointment came when a bus load of tourists from the West he had sent to Mysore telling them the city's beauty and glory, called him in Bangalore to say the fountains and the gardens he had so alluringly told them were missing.

It appears they walked down Hardinge Circle to enjoy the fountain and garden around, but returned to the hotel nearby disappointed.

That was the reason Emmanuel called me if I could do something to restore them back to their glory. I said a man of consequence in this regard is our DC Mr. P. Manivannan and even gave his number. Of course, it is too late in the day even for the DC to do anything for these fountains.

Ads on Mobile Vans, Roof – Top of Buildings:
The move by the Delhi Municipal Corporation to earn revenue from the advertisements on mobile vans and vehicles like buses and taxies and also on roof - tops of buildings, has been stalled by the Supreme Court appointed Committee, which has disfavored such a proposal.

The rejection of the Corporation’s request was based on the point raised by the Traffic Police which felt that such vehicles parked in different parts of the city create traffic hurdles. The Police, however, were condescending about ads on the rear side of a bus.

Now there is a lesson here for our City Corporation also, according to me. In matters such as this, there is bound to be divergent views emanating from our city fathers and officers for their own reason. You have guessed it. Not exactly for the good of our motorists or preserving the beauty of our city.

Look at those atrocious gantry hoardings mocking at you in different parts of our city. This despite the Corporation spending Rs. one crore exclusively for the same purpose.

I am also reminded of the discussions that took place recently about the Hardinge Circle where 6 roads meet. Many of our ex - Mayors were not ready to consider the advice given by expert Police Traffic Officer who came from Bangalore, studied, surveyed the area and gave the opinion against having a conventional circle here or a statue on the lines of other statues aligned to this circle at K. R. Circle and the one at Northern gate of Palace.

Time we respected the opinion of experts for the greater good of our people rather than for the greed of a few vested interest groups or individuals with their own agenda.