The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Funds released for sammelan

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Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Funds released for sammelan

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

Plan prepared earlier to be retained
The literary meet is scheduled in December

BANGALORE: The recently constituted high power committee, headed by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, to oversee the preparations for holding a three-day Vishwa Kannada Sammelan at Belgaum in December has released Rs. 20 crore for the purpose. It has decided to retain the comprehensive plan prepared by the previous Government.

The sammelan was a much publicised mega event of Suvarana Karnataka celebrations slated for three days from February 23 in 2006. But the Government had deferred it in the light of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award. It was further delayed due to political factors. However, the BJP Government has repeatedly said that it will hold the prestigious event with an enlarged vision in December this year.

In June, the Government asked the Department of Kannada and Culture, the nodal agency, to speed up preparations for holding the event. It had suggested that the department retain major features of the existing plan and effect only cosmetic changes to it if required as preparing a fresh plan or bringing in major changes to the existing plan would cause further delay in holding the event.

The Dharam Singh Government had taken over four months to finalise a comprehensive action plan, prepared by the department, during the S.M. Krishna Government. The Government had deliberated the plan for over 11 months. The finalised plan included the beautification of Belgaum city, an exhibition for showcasing the developments of the State in the past 50 years, Janapada, sports and film festivals, cultural programmes and seminars on various aspects of the State focussing its envisaged future.

The department had allocated Rs. 10 crore in its preliminary action plan for the purpose. As the preparation progressed, it was sensed that the overall estimate of the extravaganza might go up. Then the Government decided that any escalation in the estimate would be met from the funds provided under the specific account head, Suvarana Karnataka Funds. Mr. Yeddyurappa was the vice-chairman of the then high power committee.

In a recent development, Principal Secretary to the department Subhir Harisingh and Director Manu Baligar visited Belgaum and held talks with all those officials and Kannada leaders concerned on various aspects of the preparations, including infrastructure development.

Mr. Manu Baligar told The Hindu that the department had recommended venues for holding the event. The overall expenditure might cross Rs. 25 crore, he said.

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