Monument for Narayan: MCC not for releasing SFC grants

MYSORE: The controversy surrounding renovating R K Narayan's house has taken a turn with the MCC deciding against extending financial assistance to Mysore Urban Development Authority to procure the property, something which has not gone down well with the urban body.
This comes after a section of Kannada writers objected to the state government's move to purchase the two-storey bungalow at up-scale Yadavgiri and convert it into a museum.The MCC's contention is that the funds it has received from the government should not be used for the purpose and that the government can release special grants. During a meeting of the Council on Friday, the members said the government can assign it the job of maintaining the monument given its technical know-how. They also contended that the novelist has done little for Kannada's cause.
The urban development department in its letter dated September 6 had asked the MCC to release Rs 2.34 crore to MUDA. The MCC has received the money under State Finance Commission (SFC) grants. The letter came after the Urban Development minister Suresh Kumar intervened to get the project off the ground. Following the letter, MUDA wrote to the MCC seeking the funds and the civic body had indicated that it will release the money after due approval from the statutory bodies. But at the joint meeting of taxation and city planning and development standing committees on September 25, it was decided that the funds directed to be released to MUDA should be used to take up development works in the city's 65 wards.
The House endorsed it and said the government can release special grants even as the members questioned the move saying the SFC grants cannot be diverted. It said the special grants can be released for the conservation of properties of noted writers and that it will maintain them.
Sources in MUDA took serious objection to the move as the funds was proposed to use for the procurement of the property. "It was the government's directive and we've approached the MCC. Let them come back to us saying we'll not fund the project. We'll move the government." They said Rs 2 crore reserved by MUDA is for renovation of the building which is partially damaged. On the MCC's contention that it will maintain Narayan's bungalow, they said: "Why didn't they do it earlier? Now that a concept plan is ready, they want to do it now."