From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 27: A series of programmes to mark the 512th birth anniversary of the founder of Bengaluru Kempegowda including the release of a philatelic cover and commencement of works on construction of the Kempegowda Study Centre in the Jnanabharati campus by chief minister B S Yediyurappa through the virtual mode from the banquet hall of Vidhana Soudha and offering puja at the Samadhi of the Bengaluru founder at Kempapura in Magadi by deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, who also garlanded statue at Mekhri Circle on Sunday.
The deputy chief minister announced that the Kempapura village will be developed comprehensively by next year and a 108 ft tall metal statue of Kempegowda will be installed in front of the Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL), which has been named after the Bengaluru founder, by next February.
Work on construction of the Kempegowda heritage centre in the 23-acre Central Park in front of BIAL is under progress. The statue was delayed on account of the Covid pandemic in Noida. It will be formally unveiled by February-March next year, he said.
The Samadhi of Kempegowda at Kempapura is a heritage site and will be developed as a centre of tourist attraction to enable people from Bengaluru and outside to visit and pay homage to the founder of Bengaluru, said Dr Narayana, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Kempegowda Development Authority.
The deputy chief minister said Kempegowda had the vision to form Bengaluru city in a most scientific manner and the state government is making every effort to ensure that the city was well on the path of development and progress. There is a lush green forest cover in about 15,000 hectares of land in and around Bengaluru and the city has 46 historical and traditional buildings pertaining to Kempegowda, which need to be developed and protected. A tourist circuit based on the theme of Kempegowda is also being created to popularize the vision and achievements of the Bengaluru founder.
The Kempegowda Jayanti will be celebrated as a three-day Bengaluru Habba, with a wide range of cultural festivities, from next year.
Pointing out that Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti was currently being celebrated on June 27 every year, Dr Narayan said it will be converted into a three-day affair with International standard festivities on June 27, 27 and 28 as Bengaluru Habba. All the traditional and government buildings will be illuminated and a wide range of cultural festivities will be organized, he said.