From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 15: A massive programme for constructing 100 culture bhavans in different parts of Karnataka is being implemented, according to Karnataka’s minister for Kannada and Culture and Minor Irrigation Govind M Karjol.
An action plan has already been prepared with a view to encourage various forms of art and culture in rural areas by implementing the programme for construction of the culture bhavans at a cost of Rs 10 crore, the minister said.
Addressing the media on Friday, the minister said cultural bhavans would be constructed where there were no facilities for artistes to perform plays, dramas and conducts their activities.
The cost of each culture bhavan would be Rs. 10 lakh, he said.
He said an international standard Basava Kendra would be established in a suitable place in Bangalore at a cost of Rs 4 crore to propagate the teachings of Basaveshwara outside Bijapur.
The State Government has already spent Rs. 50 crore for providing various facilities at Koodala Sangama and Rs. 30 crore at Basava Kalyana, he said.
To undertake various Kannada cultural programmes on border areas of the State, a sum of Rs. 25 crore has been earmarked.
The Kannada Development Authority has chalked out detail plans to hold programme on border taluks, the minister said.
To restore the house of Kumara Vyasa at Gadag as a memorial, he said a sum of Rs one crore has been set aside.
The department would felicitate and offer a cash prize of Rs one lakh for Kannada candidates who qualify of IAS, IPS and IFS postings, he said.
Branches of Rangayana with headquarters in Mysore would be opened in Shimoga and Dharwad and a sum of Rs 1.10 crore has been earmarked for the purpose.
He said Rs 3 crore has been set aside for the Basha Sahitya for translation of books written in “modi language” (slank) in Kannada.
Minor Irrigation and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj departments of the State have jointly decided to revive 4,000 small water tanks by constructing bunds across tanks before the onset of monsoon by spending Rs. 1,000 crore.
Minister for Minor Irrigation Govind M Karjol told presspersons here that bund work of tanks would be completed before the onset of monsoon to ensure storage of rainwater.
He said Rs. 1600 crore had been spent for construction of bunds during the last three years and provided irrigation to 1.20 lakh acres. Nearly 6,000 hectares of encroached 800 tanks beds have been recovered.
The Ganga Kalyana scheme has been transferred from the Social Welfare Department to the Minor Irrigation Department and irrigation facility has been provided to 2500 acres by spending Rs. 250 crore. About 2,000 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe small and marginal farmers benefitted from the scheme, he said.
A sum of Rs. 150 crore had been set aside for the Ganga Kalyana scheme in 2011-12 and the scheme would be taken up on a massive scale in 12 districts of north Karnataka. Under the scheme, irrigation facility would be provided to small and marginal of farmers of SC/ST having dry lands through drilling borewells or community lift irrigation, he said.
Referring to Karnataka Community-based Tank Management Project being implemented in drought-prone districts of the State, he said a sum of Rs. 415 crore had been spent under the project. The World Bank aided project (Rs. 815 crore) helped rejuvenating 3200 water bodies, he said.
The project was expected to facilitate sustainable tank development, ensure meaningful participation of traditionally marginalised tank users, increase agricultural productivity and farm income, and enhance income generating opportunities for non-command area tank users, he said.