From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 6: A total of 46 heritage centres during the period of Bengaluru’s founder Kempegowda will be developed at a cost of Rs 223 crore, and the entire project will be part of the plans to develop three tourist circuits.
This was decided by the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Development Authority which met in Bengaluru with chief minister B S Yediyurappa in the chair on Monday.
The three circuits will involve the development of the historical heritage sites in Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur and Tumakuru. The three circuits have been identified at Magadi circuit being taken up a cost of Rs 47 crore, Bengaluru and Nandi circuits being taken up at a cost of Rs 44 crore.
Officials informed the meeting that work on erecting a 108 ft tall bronze statue of Kempegowda near the Bengaluru International Airport was under progress. A theme park around the statue is also being planned and the entire project is being executed at a cost of Rs 64 crore.
Work on building a Samadhi in memory of Kempegowda at Kempapura in Ramanagara district at a cost of Rs 32 crore will start soon as the land acquisition process was currently in the final stage.
The chief minister directed the officials to ensure that a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of the 46 families to be displaced due to land acquisition was implemented with necessary basic amenities and infrastructural facilities including road, water and sanitation.
Yediyurappa also directed that books on Kempegowda, documentaries and forts built by the Bengaluru founder as also the lakes and heritage sites are prepared in coordination with all departments such as tourism development, minor irrigation, public works, religious endowment, forests, horticulture and BBMP.
Deputy chief minister, Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Bengaluru Rural MP, D K Suresh, Magadi MLA, Manjunath, Urban Development Department additional chief secretary, Rakesh Singh and senior officials, as well as members of the Kempegowda Development Authority, participated in the meeting.
Expedite work on Basava International Museum
At a separate meeting of the Koodalasangama Development Board held under the chairmanship of the chief minister, it was decided to take up the first phase of the work on establishing the Basava International Museum on the model of the Sri Swami Narayana Aksharadhama in Delhi.
The first phase of construction of the Basava International Museum is being taken up at a cost of Rs 94 crore.
The CM directed the officials to ensure that the first phase of work should be expedited.
The meeting also decided to allocate a grant of Rs 1.25 crore for improvement of the infrastructure facilities at the Gangambike Aikya Mantap in MK Hubballi and also to waive the two-month rent to the tune of Rs 2.97 lac of the 81 shops coming under the Koodalasangama Development Authority on account of the flood inundation.
Deputy chief minister, Govind M Karjol, food and civil supplies minister, Umesh V Katti and legislators of Bagalkot district participated in the meeting.
Rs 10 cr action plan of Kittur heritage sites approved
A Rs 10 crore action plan for the development of the heritage sites around Kittur was approved at the Kittur Development Authority meeting presided over by the chief minister. The Rs 10 crore is part of the Rs 50 crore set apart for the development of Kittur heritage sites in the state’s budget for the year 2021-22.
The meeting was informed that the Authority since its establishment had taken up 106 development works at a cost of Rs 19 crore and has already completed 104 works.
Construction of Rani Chennamma Memorial Building, development of Chowkimath Seat and also building a model of the Kittur Palace was approved as part of the action plan and also include erection of a statue of Belawadi Mallamma besides improving the Samadhi of Rani Chennamma.
Deputy chief ministers, Dr C N Ashwath Narayan and Govind Karjol, home and law minister, Basavaraj Bommai, legislators of Belagavi district, revenue department principal secretary, Manjunath Prasad and other senior officials attended the meeting along with authority members.