The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Dasara festival

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Friday, Jul 10, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dasara festival

Nagesh Prabhu Special Correspondent

Bangalore:

The State Government has decided to release Rs. six crore for the 10-day Dasara festivities in Mysore, which will begin on September 19.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is also the Chairman of the High Power Committee on Dasara , told presspersons that preparations for this year’s Dasara festivities have begun more than two months ahead unlike in the past. The festivities would commence on September 19 and conclude with the spectacular Jamboo Savari on September 28.

The meeting proposed to declare holiday for schools during Dasara festivities to facilitate students and their families to visit Mysore during the festival. However, a final decision on holidays would be taken after holding consultation with Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwara Hagde Kageri, the Chief Minister said.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Yeddyurappa expressed concern over the recent communal clashes in Mysore and said the security would be beefed up in the city during the festival. All those responsible for the recent clashes would be strictly dealt with, he said.

The the government had released Rs. 10 crore for the festivities last year and the district administration had saved Rs. 1.20 crore.

Referring to hardships faced by the tourists during the Dasara, Mr Yeddyurappa assured that necessary action would be taken to address traffic and vehicle parking problems. To a question, Mr Yeddyurappa said a suitable personality would be asked to inaugurate the event.

Website soon

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje, who is also the Mysore District in-charge minister said that a website on Dasara festival would be launched soon. A sum of Rs. Six crore would be sufficient to conduct the festivities this time since all civic works have been taken up with a Rs. 100 crore special fund released by the Chief Minister last year for development of infrastructure in the city.

She said local artistes would be given preference and sportspersons from the State would he honoured during the event. Besides holding air show, steps would be taken to provide publicity to the festival at the global level, the minister said.

MLA Tanvir Sait urged the Chief Minister to strengthen the police force in the City and said there was no point in discussing the lapses that occurred last year.

Director General of Police Ajay Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan, Mysore City Corporation Commissioner K. S. Raikar, Mysore Urban Development Authority Commissioner P.C. Jayanna, Housing Board Chairman G.T. Deve Gowda, MLAs H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda, H.P. Manjunath, MLCs Thontadarya and N. Manjunath, Exhibition Authority Chairman B.P. Manjunath, and others were present. (EOM)

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