Karnataka - Madikeri   

Samskritika samuchaya project in Madikeri hangs in the balance

Madikeri: The proposed Suvarna Samskritika Samuchaya (cultural complex) project has been hanging fire for many months.

The location identified by the district administration near the football grounds, close to the General Thimayya Stadium (district stadium) here, has become the bone of contention between the administration and a group sports lovers.

Sports lovers argue the construction of the proposed complex will cut into the grounds. There are not many playgrounds in Madikeri, they say.

As much as 80 cents of land was granted and handed over to the Department of Kannada and Culture for the construction of the building.

The complex, with an auditorium, is expected to accommodate the office of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy.

The State Government had sanctioned Rs. 1.5 crore for the construction of the complex. “The funds have been given to the Public Works Department for taking up construction of the complex at the spot identified by the district administration,” Deputy Commissioner K.R. Niranjan, told The Hindu. But, opposition to it had hindered the project.

Mr. Niranjan said that he had written to Secretary, Kannada and Culture, I.M. Vittala Murthy, on the need to take up construction as early as possible.

Mr. Murthy, responding to the controversy over the location, had favoured shifting of the project to the present Town Hall (Cauvery Kalakshetra).

On seeking clarification, D.H. Raya, Commissioner of the Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC), said that the CMC had agreed in principle to hand over the land for the construction of the complex.

President of the Kodagu Kannada Sahitya Parishat T.P. Ramesh said the complex would come up where the Town Hall was located.

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Samskritika samuchaya project in Madikeri hangs in the balance

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