Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Feb 20: President of Undivided Dakshina Knnada District Kambala Samiti, Barkur Shantaram Shetty, said that dates of Kambalas will be decided only after the state governor gives his assent to the ammendmend bill that has been passed by the state legislature to allow holding of traditional buffalo race of coastal Karnataka, Kambala. "In the meantime, if the court's verdict favours holding of Kambalas, we will organize the first Kambala here. Organizers have evinced interest in holding Kambalas at Venoor, Miyar, Uppinangady, Nandikoor, Bangadi Kolli and Aikala too," he added.

He was addressing an emergency meeting of Kambala Samiti office bearers, Kambala organizers, owners of buffaloes, buffalo racers and activists supporting Kambala at Samaj Mandir here on Sunday February 19. He said that the Samiti will decide on places where Kambala can be held, based on availability of water. He added that the Samiti will effectively put to use laser and other technologies.

Shetty said that for the Kambala sport to survive, it needs to be held in a disciplined manner without hurting the animals in any way. He particularly requested the people involved with racing of the buffaloes not to hit the buffaloes in specified spots.

At the meeting, some came up with the suggestion to remove the word, 'bull' from the Kambala bill as there is the risk of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals going to court against Kambala on this basis. At the meeting, rich tributes were paid to people's representatives who supported the survival of Kambala and worked to pass the said ammendment bill urgently.

Secretary of the Samiti, Vijayakumar Kanginamane, treasurer, P R Shetty, vice president, Keshava Bhandary, president of Byndoor zone Traditional Kambala Samiti, Venkat Poojary, and others were present.