Mysore, Mar. 1 (KMC)- A meeting of the office-bearers of the Bus Owners' Associations of Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Kodagu districts was held at the Mysore Race Club (MRC) premises here recently.

The meeting raised the issue of "deliberate hindrances" caused by the KSRTC to private bus operators through unhealthy competition at a time when operational costs of private buses were very high.

Karnataka State Private Bus Owners' Federation Vice-President and Kannada activist Thayur Vittalamurthy, speaking on the occasion, said that the private bus owners were plying their buses on non-nationalised roads since the past 40 years in public interest, despite bad condition of roads, rising fuel prices, expensive spare parts and other overhead costs.

"Several operators are shying away from the public transport industry," he said and added, "Bus owners of the four districts pay approximately Rs. 6 crore taxes to the Government annually. More than 10,000 families are dependent on the bus operators for their livelihood."

Vittalamurthy accused the KSRTC of plying innumerable buses by obtaining temporary permits, without following a regulate time schedule and under-cutting the fares. Mandya District Bus Owners' Association President A.H. Narayana, addressing the gathering, emphasised on the need to protect the transport industry by battling against all odds within the legal framework.

Chamarajanagar District Bus Owners' Association President G.R. Ashwatha Narayana, State Federation's former President K.R. Shamanna and Kodagu Association Vice-President K.C. Bopanna also spoke.

The meeting, held under the Presidentship of T. Sathyanarayan, resolved to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister. Kilara Krishna of Mandya, P. Puttaraju of T. Narasipura, M. Lingaraju, M.D. Basavaraju, K. Vajregowda, H. Ravindra and others were present.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore