Mysuru, 27 March

The Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) has sparked a row by allowing a private organisation to use its space to install antennas of mobile towers at a meagre monthly rent of Rs 265.

An RTI query by activists BN Nagendra has revealed that the urban body have allowed a private player to use the rooftop of the MUDA Complex in Vijayanagar 1st stage to install antennas and use the space for 10 years.

A permission to this effect was issued by the then Mysore Urban Development Authority (now MDA) commissioner Dinesh Kumar, according to the complainant. However, no formal agreement or records are available with MDA regarding this approval.

Permission to this private firm for installation of its mobile towers at the monthly rental charges of Rs 265, when private players are paying huge rental charges for such spaces in several other parts of the city, led to suspicion among the public. The incident also drew flak from people of various organisations. 

However, neither the MDA authorities collected the monthly rental charges nor did the private firm pay the monthly rental charges in the last two years. Nagendra demanded that the government order a probe into the lapses on the part of MDA.

Speaking to Salar, MDA commissioner KR Rakshith said that he would verify the files for granting permission to the private firm and initiate serious action against the officials found guilty.