60 popular monuments under renovation in State

As many as 60 popular historical temples and structures, including the Magadi Fort and Jain basadis across the State, have been taken up for conservation by the department of Archeology, Museums and Heritage.

Work on many of these monuments that have been given an allocation of around Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore each has already begun, said Kannada and Culture Minister Govind M Karjol here on Saturday. He said Rs 25 crore had been set aside for this under the 13th Finance Commission during 2011-12.

In Bangalore division, work will begin on 11 temples including the Aprameya temple and Magadi Fort in Ramanagara district; ten monuments have been identified for conservation in Mysore division, including the Suralu Mud Palace in Udupi and Bhaskaraswamy temple in Mysore; 25 monuments have been identified in Belgaum division, including the Srimantgada Fort in Gadag and the Jain basadis in Belgaum and Uttara Kannada districts.

Fourteen structures will be taken up for conservation in Gulbarga division, including the Panchalingeshwara and Jain temples in Hampi and the North Gate and Fort at Anegundi in Koppal district.

Naada Geete

Karjol said his department would shortly convene a meeting of experts to settle the controversy over the ‘naada geete’ (State anthem).

Contentions have been raised about the length of the anthem and the non-inclusion of certain words.

A committee had been constituted under the chairmanship of writer Prof G S Shivarudrappa three years ago, which had opined that the length of the anthem should be shortened.

However, there has been no consensus over the matter.

GV centenary

Karjol said the department would launch the year-long birth centenary celebrations of noted lexicographer Prof G Venkatasubbaiah (GV) in all taluks and districts. The inauguration would be held at Ravindra Kalakshetra on September 21. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Prof G S Shivarudrappa, Prof Sheshagiri Rao and others would be the chief guests, he said.