DC says no to entry fee in Bhagamandala

The issue of collecting vehicle entry fee and parking charge in Bhagamandala has lead to a hot discussion at a review meeting on Cauvery Tula Sankramana festival, held at the new building in Triveni Sangama in Bhagamandala, on Monday.

Speaking after raising the issue, Kodagu Ekeekarana Ranga Member B S Thammaiah said that Gram Panchayat has called tender only to collect parking charge, but tender holders are collecting entrance fees at Bhagamandala entrance. It is causing trouble to the devotees and tourists, he said.

In another version, Gram Panchayat Member Satish Kumar said that the land around the temple, belongs to the temple committee. Most of the people park their vehicle in the committee land, where one can’t collect the parking charge. So, tender holders have started collecting charge at the entrance itself. The problem occurred because of the technical differences between the temple committee and gram panchayat. The Deputy Commissioner should call a meeting to solve the tussle, he suggested.

The temple committee member Manumuttappa said that the temple committee is already charging money for parking vehicles in temple land. Half of the money is being given to the Gram Panchayat. This has helped to maintain the temple surroundings, he opined.

However, B S Thammaiah wanted to request the government to release more funds, than collecting parking or entrance charge. Gram Panchayat should take up cleaning work, using that money only. “Till now the gram panchayat has not done any development work from collected money. There is no proper parking system. So collecting money should be stopped immediately,” he said. 

Chief priest of the temple Narayanachar claimed that only Deputy Commissioner has the power to collect money and not the Panchayat. After  hearing different versions of the issue, the Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari said that this year tender has been called to collect parking charge and it will continue. “A decision will be taken after the Tula Sankramana festival,” he said. Meanwhile, he strictly ordered to stop collecting entrance charge from tourists for any reason.

Kodagu Zilla Panchayat President B Shivappa, Education and Health Standing Committee President Mani Nanjappa, Zilla Panchayat Member S N Rajarao, Taluk Panchayat President Reena Jagannath and others present.

Preparations for festival

Preparations are being done for Tula Sankramana Festival which will be held at Talacauvery on October 17. The Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari has asked the Chescom, Forest Department and other department officials to complete the preparations as early as possible.