Mysuru: It appears as though senior JD(S) leader and tourism minister SR Mahesh is in no mood to step out of combat mode as far as his decade-long standoff with the Mysore Race Club (MRC) is concerned. Mahesh has been pressing for the relocation of the race course out of city limits, and proposed the development of a botanical garden on the 139-acre property. Now, a week after he instructed the MRC authorities to dismantle temporary structures built without permission, Mahesh has now directed them to take down some of the stables constructed illegally on the race course premises within three months.The minister warned MRC officials that water and electricity supply would be stopped, and the club’s bar licence cancelled if they failed to comply.The minister also reprimanded officials of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) for not taking cognisance of the stables, built without permission on the race course premises. “There are more than three such stables, each accommodating around 20 horses . The race course management has not taken permission from the MCC to build these structures. Each horse needs three individuals to take care of it, and most of these employees are from North India,” said Mahesh.Mahesh, who inspected the race course facility on Sunday to see if the club had complied with his instructions to remove the illegal structures, was none too pleased on spotting the three stables built without prior permission from MCC on the premises.Expressing his disappointment with the MCC officials, the minister said, “Had common people constructed an illegal structure, you would not spare them. But here, there are three illegal stables, but you have not taken any action. Why is there such difference in handling these problems? If you cannot take action, you better quit your jobs or start working in another department.”Clarifying that he was not against horse racing per se, Mahesh said that it was the violation of regulations in the construction of structures that he was unhappy with. “I am happy with the dismantling of temporary structures, but I was surprised to see illegal buildings constructed without permission. There are 600 horses at the course, which need 1,800 people to look after them,” he added.The minister was also not pleased with the underground drainage facility at the race course. Stating that the MRC officials had been told not to house more than 100 horses at the existing facility, and shift the rest of them out of the city. Mahesh said that, proliferation of illegal structures at the race course, would slowly chip away at the lungspace. “I am being pressured by members of the club. But, I will not succumb to it. To me, the people are zoo are very important,” he said.The club secretary Anantha Raj Urs said, “The minister has given us three months. We will discuss the matter at the club meeting, and take the necessary action. We removed eight temporary structures in accordance with the minister’s directions. In foreign countries, there are separate places to conduct races, train and groom horses, but that is not the case in India. Currently, we have all facilities under one roof, including a pool for 456 horses. If we need to develop these facilities separately, we will need more space and government help.”MCC commissioner KH Jagadish told TOI that the civic agency had not renewed MRC’s club licence. “I have instructed the zonal commissioner to verify all the documents, including those pertaining to the UGD connection. If we find that there has been any lapse on the part of MCC officials, we will initiate action against them,” said Jagadish.City police commissioner A Subeamanyeshwar Rao, additional deputy commissioner Yogesh,DCP Vishnuvardhan were among those who accompanied Mahesh during the inspection.

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