Mysore from a Town planning view

Sri Chamundeshwari Temple

Mysuru The City of Palaces

contents CH-1

Introduction of Mysuru

06

• Today’s Mysore • History of Mysore

CH-2 Environmental Review of Mysuru • • • •

12

Land Use Vegetation Growth Water Supply Drainage

CH-3 Environmental Issues of Mysuru

18

• Rapid Expension of City • Vegetation Issues

CH-4 Research Proposal

4

24

Mysore Palace 5

chapter 1

Introduction of Mysore 1. Todays’s Mysuru (2022) Mysore is noted for its Heritage Structures and palaces, including the Mysore Palace, and for the festivities that take place during the Dasara festival when the city receives hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world. It lends its name to various art forms and culture, such as Mysore Dasara, Mysore painting.

The site where Mysore Palace now stands was occupied by a village named Puragere at the beginning of the 16th century.The Mahishashur Fort was constructed in 1524 by Chamaraja Wodeyar III (1513–1553), who passed on the dominion of Puragere to his son Chamaraja Wodeyar IV (1572–1576). Since the 16th century, the name of Mahishūru has commonly been used to denote the city.

Mysore city Population 1.2M Census 2023

Map 1: Mysore District 2021 Mysore city was the capital of the former princely State of Mysore and on independence it became part of Madras presidency. On the linguistic reorganisation of the States in 1956 a new state named Mysore State was formed with its headquarters at Bangalore in which Mysore was a district. Later, on the first of November 1973, the state was renamed as Karnataka.

The then Mysore district comprised of 3 sub-divisions viz. Mysore, Hunsur and Nanjangud which were sub divided into 11 taluks with a total area of 11954 sq.km. The district was bifurcated with the creation of a new district viz. Chamarajanagar, with its headquarters at Chamrajanagar by taking out the taluks, Chamarajanagar, Gundlupet, Kollegal, and Yellandur. Thus the district at present consists of 7 taluks with a total area of 6269 Sq.km.

6

1.1 CLIMATE Mysore has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) bordering on a hot semiarid climate (BSh) under the Köppen climate classification. The main seasons are Summer from March to May, the monsoon season from June to October and winter from November to February.

Temperature Temperature influences considerably the socioeconomic activities in a region. The district in general enjoys cool and equable temperature. During the period from March to May, there is continuous rise in temperature. April is the hottest month with the mean daily maximum temperature at 34.5°C and the daily minimum at 21.1°C. On normal days, the day temperatures during summer may exceed 39°C.

Avg. Hourly Temp. 2022

There is welcome relief from the heat when thunder showers occur during April and May. With the advance of the southwest monsoon in the beginning of June, the day temperatures drop appreciably and throughout the southwest monsoon period, the weather is pleasant. After mid-November, both day and night temperatures decrease progressively. January is the coldest month with mean daily maximum at 11°C. 13Some days during the period from November to January, the minimum temperature may go below 11°C.

1.2 HILLS CHAMUNDI HILLS - The most important hills in Mysore are Chamundi Hills. Chamundi Hills are situated 13 km away from the city of Mysore

Geological Section of Mysore

1.3 WATER BODIES The city is located between two rivers: the Kaveri River that flows through the north of the city and the Kabini River, a tributary of the Kaveri, that lies to the south.

KABINI RIVER (240KM) - The Kabini River is one of the major tributaries of the river Cauvery in southern India. It originates near Kavilumpara in Kozhikode district of Kerala state by the confluence of the Panamaram River and the Mananthavady River.

KAVERI RIVER (805KM) - The Kaveri is one of the major Southern Indian river flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Hemavati River (245km)- The Hemavati is a river in southern India near Karnataka and an important tributary of the Kaveri.

Mysore District River Map

NETRAVATI RIVER (103KM) - The Netravati River or Netravathi Nadi has its origins at Bangrabalige valley, Yelaneeru Ghat in Kudremukh in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, India.

YAGACHI RIVER - The Yagachi River is a river in Karnataka, India. It arises in the Western Ghats near the city of Chickmagaluru, flows through Belur Taluka, Hassan District, where it becomes a tributary of the Hemavati River, which it enters near Gorur.

7

2. History of Mysore (1565-1760) 2.1 POLIGARS OF VIJAYANAGARA (1565-1635) On 23 January 1565 the last Hindu empire in South India, the Vijayanagara Empire, was defeated by the combined forces of the Muslim states of Bijapur, Golconda, and Ahmadnagar in the Battle of Talikota.

The battle was fought on the doab (interfluve, or tongue of land) between the Kistna river and its major left bank tributary, the Bhima, 100 miles (160 km) to the north of the imperial capital, Vijayanagara (Map 4).The invaders from the north later destroyed the capital, and the ruler’s family escaped to Penukonda, 125 miles (201 km) to the southeast, where they established their new capital.

Later, they moved another 175 miles (282 km) east-southeast to Chandragiri, not far from the coast, and survived there until 1635, their dwindling empire concentrating its resources on its eastern Tamil and Telugu speaking realms. According to historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam: in the ten years following 1565, the imperial centre of Vijayanagara effectively ceased to be a power as far as the western reaches of the peninsula were concerned, leaving a vacuum that was eventually filled by Ikkeri and Mysore.

Map 2: Mysore in 1525 as a part of Vijaynagar

2.2 BIJAPUR, MARATHAS, MUGHALS (1636–1687) In 1636, nearly 60 years after their defeat at Penukonda, the Sultans of Bijapur regrouped and invaded the kingdoms to their south. They did so with the blessing of the Mughal empire of northern India whose tributary states they had newly become. They had the help also of a chieftain of the Maratha uplands of western India, Shahaji Bhonsle, who was on the lookout for rewards of jagir land in the conquered territories the taxes on which he could collect as an annuity.

Watercolour of the temple at Kolar, 1800. Kolar district was in the Carnatic-Bijapur-Payanghat province in the mid-17th century.

In the western-central poligar regions, the Nayakas of Keladi were easily defeated, but were able to buy back their lands from their Bijapur invaders. (Map 5.) Eastward, the Bijapur-Shahji forces took the gold-rich Kolar district in 1639, and Bangalore—a city founded a century earlier by Kempe Gowda I. Advancing down the Eastern Ghats, the mountains rising behind the coastal plains of southeastern India, they captured the historic towns of Vellore and Gingee. Returning north through the east-central maidan plain (average elevation 600 m (2,000 ft)), they gained possession of the towns of Ballapur, Sira, and the hill fortress of Chitaldroog.

8

Map 3: Mysore in 1525 as a part of Bijapur

2.3 WODEYARS OF MYSORE (1610–1760) Although their own histories date the origins of the Wodeyars of Mysore (also “Odeyar”, “Udaiyar”, “Wodiyar”, “Wadiyar”, or “Wadiar”, and, literally, “chief”) to 1399, records of them go back no earlier than the early 16th century. These poligars are first mentioned in a Kannada language literary work from the early 16th century. A petty chieftain, Chamaraja (now Chamaraja III), who ruled from 1513 to 1553 over a few villages not far from the Kaveri river, is said to have constructed a small fort and named it, Mahisuranagara (“Buffalo Town”), from which Mysore gets its name. The Wodeyar clan issued its first inscription during the chieftaincy of Timmaraja (now Timmaraja II) who ruled from 1553 to 1572. Towards the end of his rule, he is recorded to have owned 33 villages and fielded an army of 300 men.

By the time of the short-lived incumbency of Timmaraja II’s son, Chama Raja IV—who, well into his 60s, ruled from 1572 to 1576—the Vijayanagara Empire had been dealt its fatal blow. Before long, Chama Raja IV withheld payment of the annual tribute to the empire’s viceroy at Seringapatam. The viceroy responded by attempting to arrest Chamaraja IV, failing, and letting the taxes remain unpaid.

An outright military challenge to the empire would have to await the incumbency of Raja I, Chama Raja IV’s eldest son, who became the Wodeyar in 1578. Raja I captured Seringapatam and, in a matter of days, moved his capital there on 8 February 1610. (Map 5.) During his rule, according to Burton Stein, his “chiefdom expanded into a major principality”.

In 1638, the reins of power fell into the hands of the 23-year-old Kanthirava Narasaraja I, who had been adopted a few months earlier by the widow of Raja I. Kanthirava was the first wodeyar of Mysore to create the symbols of royalty such as a royal mint, and coins named Kanthiraya (corrupted to “Canteroy”) after himself. These remained a part of Mysore’s “current national money” well into the 18th century.

Mysore Malabar Bijapur Map 4: Mysore in 1704 as a District

9

2.4 SUBAHDARS OF SIRA (1689–1760) A 1794 aquatint of the mausoleum at Kolar, where Haidar Ali’s father, Fateh Muhammad, the military governor (faujdar) of Kolar district in the Province of Sira, is buried.

A Mughal province which comprised the Carnatic region south of the Tungabhadra river, and which was to exist for seventy years, was established in 1687 with its capital at Sira (in Tumkur District). ( Map 5.) The Province of Sira (also Carnatic-Balaghat) was composed of seven parganas (districts): Basavapatna, Budihal, Sira, Penukonda, Dod-Ballapur, Hoskote, and Kolar; in addition, Harpanahalli, Kondarpi, Anegundi, Bednur, Chitaldroog, and Mysore were considered by the Mughals to be tributary states of the province.

Qasim Khan (also, Khasim Khan or Kasim Khan) was appointed the first Subahdar (governor) and Faujdar (military governor) of the province in 1689. Having displayed “energy and success” both in controlling the province and in developing it, he died in 1694, killed either by Maratha raiders from the northwest, or killing himself in disgrace after these raiders seized a treasure under his care. Most Subhahdars who governed after him were replaced in a year or two by a successor.

The instability continued until Dilavar Khan was appointed governor in 1726, his term lasting until 1756. In 1757, Sira was overrun by the Marathas, but was restored to the Mughals in 1759. In 1761 future ruler Haidar Ali, whose father had been the Mughal military governor (or Faujdar) of Kolar district in the province, captured Sira, and soon conferred on himself the title of “Nawab of Sira”. However, the defection of his brother five years later caused the province to be lost again to the Marathas, who retained it until Haidar’s son, Tipu Sultan, recaptured it for his father in 1774.

The capital of the province, Sira town, prospered most under Dilavar Khan and expanded in size to accommodate 50,000 homes. (Map 7.) Palaces and public monuments of Sira became models for other future constructions; both Haidar Ali’s palace in Bangalore and Tipu Sultan’s in Seringapatam, built during the period 1761–1799 of their rule, were modelled after Dilavar Khan’s palace in Sira. Likewise, according to Rice, Bangalore’s Lal Bagh as well as Bangalore fort may have been designed after Sira’s Khan Bagh gardens and Sira fort.

1617 1704 1782 1799

10

Map 5: Evolution of Mysore from 1617-1799

2.5 MODERN MYSORE (1950-2022) Mysore was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore until 1950, except in the 18th century when Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were the defacto rulers for a 40-year period. Mysore state continued to be ruled by Maharaja H.H. Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar till Mysore became part of Indian Republic on 26-1-1950.

And now the Mysore city is the headquarters of Mysore District. Mysore city is also known as the ‘City of Palaces’ and the ‘Ivory City’. The famous Chamundi Hill, which is mythological associated with the name of the city, is to its southeast.

TOURISM - Mysuru as a modern city has managed to retain its quaint old world charm and is one of the tourism hot spots and receives maximum number of tourist during the period of Dasara festival from all over the world.

IT HUB - Mysuru emerged to be one of the major IT hubs in Karnataka. Mysuru is second in state for software exports. The robust growth of the IT sector in the city is attributed because of major contributions from Infosys, Larsen Toubro (L&T), Wipro Technologies, Software Paradigms India etc. There are around 50 IT Companies in Mysuru.

RAILWAYS - Mysuru Junction is the City’s main station and there are trains plying the route between Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, ROAD - The road networks of Mysuru city are in a gridiron fashion with numerous parallel roads “grids” the city. And then there are some 5 radial roads, all originating from Mysuru Palace, which is the focal point of the city. Mysuru has a very good road network, Bengaluru city is connected by SH-17 with 4 lane road.

AIRPORT - Mandakalli Airport is situated around 10 kms from Mysuru City. Nearest international airport is Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru around 170 kms from Mysuru.

EDUCATION - There are 2 Medical colleges, 14 Engineering colleges, 12 Polytechnic Colleges, 1 Nature Cure and Yoga college, 2 Ayurveda College and 36 Degree Colleges in Mysuru District.

1844 2022

Map 6: Evolution of Mysore from 1844-2022

11

Environmental Review of Mysuru chapter 2

12

chapter 2

Environmental Review 1. Land Use (2022) Mysore is the third-largest city in the state of Karnataka, India,which served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom(Kingdom of Mysore) for nearly six centuries, from 1399 until 1947.Located at the base of the Chamundi Hills- 146 km (91 mi)southwest of the state capital Bangalore. Area- 128.42 km2 (50 sq mi).

The cultural ambience and achievements of Mysore earned it the sobriquet Cultural capital of Karnataka.Mysore is noted for its palaces, including the Mysore Palace, and for the festivities that take place during the Dasara festival when the city receives a large number of tourists. The growth of the information technology industry in the first decade of the 21st century has resulted in the city emerging as the second largest software exporter in Karnataka, next to Bangalore.

The uncontrolled, haphazard, low density human population will lead to urban sprawl, which is characterized by haphazard patchwork of development leads to an improper development in any city usually happens due to land use / land cover conversion in which the growth rate of urbanized land significantly exceeds the role of population growth over a specific period of time, with impervious surfaces. In the present day world people are more and more attracted towards comforts and luxuries. Consequently population flows rural to the urban in search of some economically gainful activities.

Settlements Wastelands Agricultural Land Tanks/Reservoir River Streams

14

Map 7: Mysore District Landuse in 2022

Vegetation

2. Vegetation (2022) Mysore area is described as an undulating table land, fertile and well watered by perennial rivers whose waters dammed by anicuts (check dams built across rivers of different sizes) enrich their banks by means of canals.

Mysore area is situated in the angular area where the Eastern and Western Ghat ranges converge into the Nilgiri hills. Physiographically, the region in which the districts are situated may be classified as partly maidan (plains) and partly semi-malnad (hilly).

Cultivated area includes rain fed, irrigated, plantations and hedges.

2000

FOREST DIVISION OF MYSORE (2010) Mysore Forest Division Earlier, Mysore Forest Division (MFD) was comprised of a much larger area including Yelandur Range, Srirangapatna Range, Metikuppe Range and Kakanakote Range. Subsequently, Srirangapatna Range was included in the Mandya Forest Division and during 1992, Yelandur was included in Chamarajanagar Wildlife Division. Metikuppe and Kakanakote ranges were included in Nagarhole National Park of Hunsur Wildlife Division.

At present Mysore Forest Division is spread over p arts of Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts (Srinivasan, 2002). MFD is bounded on the north by Mysore City, on the east by Kollegal Forest Division, on the south by Bandipur National Park and on the west by Hunsur Territorial and Hunsur Wildlife Divisions. The tract under study lies between latitudes 11o 48’ to 12o 22’ N and between longitudes 76o 15’ to 77o 8’ E. The division has three sub-divisions, namely, HD Kote sub-division with headquarters at HD Kote, Mysore sub-division and Sandalkote sub-division both with headquarters at Mysore (Srinivasan, 2002).

2010

Mysore division has the following ranges under three sub-divisions I. MYSORE SUB-DIVISION: i. Mysore range ii. Greening urban area range iii. T. Narasipura range II. HD KOTE SUB-DIVISION i. HD Kote range ii. Sargur range iii. Nanjangud

2016

III. SANDALKOTE SUB-DIVISION consists of one Assistant Conservator of Forests, one Range Forest Officer and other field staff The forests include dry deciduous, scrub forests, scrub lands, forest blanks and plantation (mixed species, teak, acacia and eucalyptus). Water bodies are tanks, reservoirs, lakes and river islands.

Croplands include agricultural plantation, horticulture croplands, and used or unused lands of mining and quarrying.

The built-up areas are defined as areas with construction, primarily buildings or houses. The extent of area for each landscape element is given in figure 10. Agricultural land covers about 78% of the land, forest constitute 12% and 6% water bodies.

2022

15

3. Water Supply (2022) GROUND WATER SCENARIO- Hydrogeology: Hydrogeologically, the area forms a part of hard rock terrain comprising of granites, gneisses, charnockites and amphibolites. Pegmatite veins and dolerite dykes are common intrusive in the area. The flat and low-lying areas are covered by a thick mantle of fertile soil, while, the elevated portions and hills are capped by laterite. The occurrence and movement of ground water depends on the secondary porosities like weathering, fracturing, faulting and other lineaments. This has a bearing on the tectonic history of the area as well. Prominent lineaments seen in the district are oriented in a NNE –SSW direction N-S as well as in NW-SE direction. The foliation in the granitic gneiss is trending NE–SW to NNW-SSE with an easterly dip of 40 to 80. Faults are observed trending E-W to NW- SE, especially in the southern part of the district. There are alluvial aquifers of limited aerial extent and thickness having primary porosity occurring along river courses. The river sections contain sand, silt and gravel in varying proportions. Hard rocks do not posses primary porosity and the ground water occurs under phreatic conditions in weathered zones of granites and gneiss. Water is un ven rise to thick sandy residuum down to the depth of 2.0 and 20.0 m. and forms important phreatic aquifers in the district.

Tanks/ Reservoirs River Streams Taluk Bound District Boundary Map 8: Water Bodies in Mysore 2022 RAINFALL AND CLIMATE Mysore district receives an average rainfall of 776.7 mm. There are 53 rainy days in the district on an average and about 50% of the annual rainfall occurs during the southwest monsoon period (table 2.1). The rainfall generally decreases from west to east. The coefficient of variation is around 30% in the west to above 35% in the east, indicative of consistent rainfall in the west as compared to the east. The premonsoon rainfall is more consistent than the post-monsoon rainfall. The southwest monsoon had been normal from 1994 onwards till 1999, excessive during 2000 and deficient thereafter. The northwest monsoon is much better as being excessive to n ormal during the recent past. Over all on an annual basis, there are more normal rainfall years than excessive and deficient ones. While during 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2005, the district received excess rainfall, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, it received Normal except for 2006, during which the district received deficient rainfall.

16

4. Drainage (2022) Drainage-Mysore district is endowed with a number of perennial and non-perennial rivers. The Cauvery, which is the major river system of the district, traverses the Mysore plateau from northwest to east along with its tributaries, Kabini, Suvarnavathi, Laxmanathirtha and others. The Cauvery rises at Talacauvery in Kodagu district and flows along the boundary of Periyapatna taluk, enters into the district through K R Nagar taluk. It further moves into T. Narasipur and Kollegal before reaching Tamil Nadu. The total catchment area of the river is the second largest in the State and it covers nearly 18 per cent of the land area of the State. It is the only river which has been harnessed for irrigation from ancient times and it is estimated that as much as 95 per cent of its surface flow is put to use before it enters into the Bay of Bengal. The drainage pattern is sub-dendritic to dendritic type in nature.

Dug Wells Piezometer Drainage

Map 9: Drainage Mapping of Mysore 2022 Aquifer systems encountered in the area The study of aquifer geometry and parameters have been attempted by Central Ground Water Board, South western Region, Bangalore, under its ground water exploration programme through drilling exploratory bore wells at selected places. Ground water occurs under phreatic conditions in the weathered rocks, top-soils and in river alluvium. Occurrence and movement of ground water is controlled by degree of weathering and fracturing in the weathered zone. These aquifers are developed by dug wells, dugcum-bore wells and shallow tube wells. The depth of dug wells in the district range from 5.28 to 17.59 m bgl. Cross sectional area of dug wells vary in the range of 5.39 to 115.31 m2.

17

Environmental Issues of Mysuru chapter 3

18

chapter 3

Environmental Issues of Mysore 1. Rapid Expansion of Mysuru City The uncontrolled, haphazard, low density human population will lead to urban sprawl, which is characterized by haphazard patchwork of development leads to an improper development in any city usually happens due to land use / land cover conversion in which the growth rate of urbanized land significantly exceeds the role of population growth over a specific period of time, with impervious surfaces.

In the present day world people are more and more attracted towards comforts and luxuries. Consequently population flows rural to the urban in search of some economically gainful activities.

It helps in the growth and areas expansion of the cities.

The total area of the Mysore city as per Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has shown an increase from 1976-2001. The Mysore city has covered nearly 3880.7 hectares in 1976, 7569 in 1995, 9221 in 2001.

1971

It is observed that the rate at which a particular area grows is not uniform both in time and space. There are several factor, which govern the growth rate and also responsible for the growth to be continue in a particular direction. The traffic nodes are assumed to be the most important factor for the beginning of settlement, which continues to grow with the passage of time. Hence transportation in general is the most important factors in governing the type and rate of growth of the urban areas.

The impetus, generated due to the installation of any industry is the next important factor in the growth of the city. Tertiary activities like services, commercial and other activities follow it. The physical factors of the region like rivers, plains, hills etc which also influence the growth of the city. These factors determine the value of the land, which intern also determines the direction of the growth of the city.

In the modern world, the urban development and spatial expansion of urban centers is continuous. The physical growth of the city has taken place along with the population growth. There was considerable spatial expansion as a result of rise in its population.

With the rise in population, the economic base of the city was also diversified generating more employment. The spatial expansion is a consequence of the process of urbanization and urban growth; it is extension of the urban tentacles into the non-urban areas, through the expansion and through the process of agricultural land uses and occupations change from the area of primary activity to secondary and tertiary.

During 1971-1981, due to increasing demand for housing, the trust board further formed three new extensions in various parts of the city. They were Gangothri layout in the west, Kuvempunagar in the south west and the Kumbarakoppal in the northwestern part of the city. The city’s expansion during the period took place mainly towards the northeast and southwest.

During this period Municipal Corporation area was increased from 37.30 Km2 to 40.05 Km2 in the 1981, 82.27 Km2 of area has considered urban agglomeration area, it includes municipal corporation area and outgrowths.

In 1971, the Census has classified municipal corporation area into 7 Mohallas, 9 standard urban areas and 19 rural components were considered. In 1981, city Improvement Trust Board was converted into Mysore Urban Development Authority.

Mysore Urban Development Authority has 82.27 Km2 of area, it was considered as urban agglomeration, it includes both municipal area (40.05) and out growths (42.22). In this decade MUDA has 13 out growths selected from Mysore standard urban area and rural components in 1971.

20

1981

1991

2001

2007

2009

2022

Expansion of Mysuru City from 1971-2022

21

2. Vegetation of Mysore Karnataka is building a new strategy that is helpful for tier 2 cities development, but poses a challenge to develop the city in a planned manner and avoid sprawl in the outskirts. To scientifically understand the process of growth of the cities is critical to avoid drastic irreversible landscape transformations.

The combined methods of remote sensing, land cover and land use change, are effective decision-support tools to analyze and compare the impacts of classical urban sprawl patterns in Mysore. There has been an enormous growth in built-up area during 1999 to 2009 it can be observed that there was 514% of growth from 1999 to 2010 whereas growth of built up was 1685 % in past four decades.

Vegetation cover declined by 923% in past four decades. Other category also had an enormous increase and covers 166 % of the land use. The drastic land cover transformations necessitate an effective adaptive plans and schemes to mitigate the impacts and to improve conditions of the cities. Visulaisation of the growth considering cultural and industrial evolution helps in the better planning and decision making.

Vegetation

types

The

forests

can

be

classified

as

dry

deciduous

forest

and

scrub

forests.

I. Southern - Tropical dry deciduous forest (Group 4A-C2 of Champion and Seth) II. Scrub forest (Group 5 Sub-group 5B-DS1) Southern tropical dry deciduous forest: This type of forest (Figure 8a) is confined to HD Kote range. This tract comprises of the following species, Acacia catechu, Adina cordifolia, Anogeissus latifolia, Cassia fistula, Chloroxylon sp., Dendrocalamus strictus, Emblica officinalis, Randia dumetorum, Santalum album, Terminalia chebula, Zizyphus spp.

The rainfall received is mostly from southwest monsoon averaging 700 mm.

Scrub forest: This type of forest (Figure 8b) is found in HD Kote and Sargur ranges and some of the important species found in this forest type are Acacia catechu, Albizzia odorotissima, Azadirachta indica, Cassia auriculata, Cassia fistula, Diospyros melanoxylon, Diospyros montana, Elaedendron glaucum, Gardenia gummifera, Madhuca indica, Santalum album, Terminalia chebula, Vitex altissima, Zizyphus xylopyrus and thorny species like Pterolobium indicum and Randia dumetorum (Srinivasan, 2002).

Mysuru city’s land use has only 2.51% of space reserved for green and open spaces where in the UDPFI guideline directs at least 15-20% of the land use to have a green and open spaces. Mysuru city has around 343 Undeveloped and 178 Developed parks as per the records of Mysore City Corporation.

That is, only 34% of the Parks and Open spaces in the city of Mysuru is developed and another 66% is yet to develop and many developed parks are not maintained well and failed in attracting the users and providing the user satisfaction (Primary survey data).

The Parks and Open Spaces of a city constitute 788.2 hectares and the per capita green space is just 0.000112 sqm which is a major issue of the city. A per capita of at least 10-15 sqm of public green spaces has to be available in an urban area directs World health organisation. Almost 50% of the residents do not have an access to the urban green spaces within their walking distance (300-500 m). And the distribution of the urban green spaces is also unsatisfactory.

Accessibility of UGS for the residents and its evaluation can be considered as an important aspect of analysing the urban green spaces.

22

2000

2010

2016

2022

There are patches of schist in Tirumalkudlu Narasipura areas. HD Kote area is covered with red shallow gravelly soil. The summer season is from March to end of May and is followed by the southwest monsoon season that lasts up to the end of September. October and November may be termed as the retreating monsoon season. The annual rainfall is 600 mm to 700 mm which is spread over a period of seven calendar months from the latter half of April to the end of October.

October is the rainiest month (month of maximum rainfall). The rainfall received from June to September constitutes only 40% of the annual rainfall (Srinivasan, 2002). There are 3 main reservoirs (Figure 7a): Tharaka, Kabini and Nugu along with other small water bodies (lakes and ponds - figure 7b) such as Hebbala etc. throughout the Division. There is also the presence of Nugu and Kabini water channels (Figures 7c and d) flowing out of the reservoirs and passing through many villages. All the water bodies are maintained by the inland water department.

Nugu reservoir surrounded by mountains is in turn connected to Bandipur National Park (Srinivasan, 2002).

23

chapter 4

Research Proposal Title: Development of Urban Green Spaces Key Words: Urban Green Spaces (UGS), Network, Open Areas, connecting spaces, planning and management, Comprehensive Development Plan, shrinking green spaces, and preservation of agricultural zones.

State: Mysore City, Karnataka Broad Area: Mysuru is the second largest city and lies in the base of Chamundi Hills and one of the important cities in Karnataka where urban sprawl is in faster pace.Urban green space (UGS) is an incredibly important element to be looked at and nourished within all land use. Rapid urbanization is directly affecting the UGS as key element. The optimum distribution of the UGS and its accessibility helps in maintaining the harmony in between the environment and the urban areas.

The green space network analysis of the UGS of Mysuru city was evaluated with a methodological framework to understand the scenario of urban green network in densely built urban area. The UGS per capita and accessibility of all the present green spaces are studies to know its functionality. As it is well known fact that the quality of life, human well-being are the important factors influenced by urban green and open spaces accessibility and also helps in improving the strategic lifestyle in the urban areas. Eventually, contributions from UGS to the urban areas are very broad and multidimensional like, social, cultural, recreational, economic, environmental and aesthetical.

1. TECHNICAL DETAIL 1.1 Background of Mysore: Mysuru city’s land use has only 10% of space reserved for green and open spaces where in the UDPFI guideline directs at least 15-20% of the land use to have a green and open spaces.

Mysuru city has around 343 Undeveloped and 178 Developed parks as per the records of Mysore City Corporation.

That is, only 34% of the Parks and Open spaces in the city of Mysuru is developed and another 66% is yet to develop and many developed parks are not maintained well and failed in attracting the users and providing the user satisfaction (Primary survey data).

North west area of mysore is 24.521km with 8.6% of UGS in which 6.3% is of the educational properties, 7.7% is educational plots and 0.35% of the cemetery grounds.North east area of mysore is 27.99km with 5.22% of UGS in which 1.3% is of the educational properties, 2.9% is educational plots and 0.94% of the cemetery grounds.

South west area of mysore is 34.13km with 4.59% of UGS in which 1.7% is of the educational properties and 1.6% is educational plots.South east area of mysore is 26.51km with 35.51% of UGS in which 34.2% is of the educational properties and 0.6% is educational plots.

Failure to create more green spaces and failure to upkeep the existing UGS has made the city into a Urban Jungle which should not be the case for a city with such rich history and Greenscape.

2. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: Description of problem: Mysore city’s green patches are divided into 3 different categories Public accessible parks and open areas, educational buildings with green areas and cemetery. To identify the problem and understand the division of Urban green spaces in the City of Mysore, the division of the city is in North-east, North-west, Southeast and South-west.

The South-West part of the Mysore has the largest area but it has the least green area with 1.74% only as the public green spaces and 1.61% as the educational grounds. As in the South-west part of Mysore city a majority of land is barren and it belongs to the government there is a huge opportunity to utilize the space.

The plot is also around the lingambudhi lake in the southern part of the city and can be developed as a lakefront with as a biodiversity or a botanical garden.

24

3. REVIEW OF WORK ALREADY DONE: 3.1 In 2011: The Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has announced ambitious plans to develop the city in a planned manner which includes development of lakes and gardens. This is in addition to its long-term plans of developing four new residential areas that entails distribution of nearly 10,000 sites.

3.2 In 2022: The Vanashri programme initiated by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to plant 25,000 saplings in the city during the year and shore up the green cover was launched.

4. PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: This was part of the ongoing Green Mysuru campaign launched with the objective of planting 1 lakh saplings in four years and under which 50,000 saplings had already been planted in two years. The onus of maintaining the parks was too burdensome for the MCC and hence, Private Public Participation (PPP) was implemented; however, this has not been very successful.

In Mysore, the only park maintained by a private organization is Vishwamanava Park, under the care of Raman Board and in addition, there are also several parks maintained by the Citizens independently.

But, under the present circumstances, the MCC is overburdened and owing to scarcity of funds, is unable to undertake development works. The MCC will chalk out a program to persevere and develop 316 parks in the city with the help of private sponsors. (The Hindu 2003).

5. RELEVANCE TO STATE PRIORITIES: 5.1 Social Interests: UGS acts as the sustainable agent for the community have a healthy open spaces. UGS and public spaces may also work as a social ties within the urban fabric where a huge gathering can happen and helps increasing the social and communication skill of the users. Henceforth the sense of safety and belongingness is significantly seen among the residents.

5.2 Environmental Interests: The wide spread environmental interest of the UGS ranges from conservation of biodiversity to the urban climate regulations. The purification of air, provision of shade and increased rate of precipitation are all the benefits from the UGS. This helps in creating a pleasant micro climate and temperature drop.

5.3 Economic Interest: It is a well-known fact that the Urban Greeneries contributes a lot for increasing the value of the Property and helps budding of economy for the any urban land form.

6. FINANCIAL RESOURCES COMMITTED AT THE STATE LEVEL: 6.1 Increased employment: Developing a lakefront will allow a lot of new businesses to open up near the area hence resulting in more employment in the city and eventually contributing in the financial state of the government. Greenscaping companies will gain more work and Workers either contractual or regular will gain higher workability and more jobs to work in for building and maintaining these UGSs. 6.2 Tourism boost: Mysore as a city will immediately have more visitors if the current UGSs are improved and maintained as they provide a closeness with the environment. The people from near and far will flock to the Green pastures to enjoy themselves which will immediately improve the economic and social status of the residents. This in turn will boost the locals who will serve to the needs of the visitors and in return gain financial profit.

6.3 Sports programmes: The green spaces will allow the athletes to participate in competitions organized by the local authorities and such sports meets would generate revenue for the people, the athletes and the local government.

25

6. CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

To get the permission of the government for the development of the land.

To get proper funding for the project Understanding the water level and soil type Determining the trees suitable for the area keeping in mind the water requirements.

Pedestrianizing the whole area To incorporate activities that generate revenue without crowding the lakefront

6. METHODOLOGY DETAILED STEPWISE ACTIVITIES AND SUB-ACTIVITIES: • • • • • • • •

Understanding the climatic conditions Literature study of the area to understand the soil type Learning about the water levels of the lingambudhi lake and the ground water around the area Studying the types of trees that can be grown in the region Creating a biodiversity Planning of the area around the lake Developing activities around to generate revenue without hindering the biodiversity Conclusion

6. OUTPUT OF THE PROJECT: Maintaining a big area like this will improve the green footprint of the land of mysore and the green will help fight the germs in the environment resulting in better air quality of the state and hence better health of the citizens.

Opening up of new activities will make the whole lakefront more interactive and hence result in creating a better social environment for the citizens of mysore.

Mysore as a city will immediately have more visitors if the current UGSs are improved and maintained as they provide a closeness with the environment. The people from near and far will flock to the Green pastures to enjoy themselves which will immediately improve the economic and social status of the residents. This in turn will boost the locals who will serve to the needs of the visitors and in return gain financial profit.

26

27