16 years on, Kannada Bhavan still 'under construction'

Work on building has come to a standstill for want of funds

Construction work of the Kannada Bhavan in the town, which was started a good 16 years back, is still going on at a snail's pace.

In 1999, it was decided to build Kannada Bhavan on land measuring 70X140 sq ft at TVV Layout in the town. The work on the bhavan started the same year after the then MLA G Parameshwara and zilla panchayat provided grants for the same. After a couple of years, the works were stalled owing to lack of funds.

In 2010, it was decided to demolish the structure and a new building was planned. A blueprint for the bhavan at a cost of Rs 2 crore was prepared.

Accordingly, it was planned to build an acoustic and electric room, auditorium with a seating capacity of 500, library, necessary equipment for theatre activities, two guest houses, toilets and reception hall.

The construction work resumed after the elected representatives released local area development funds. Rajya Sabha member Rama Jois, B Jayashri and K B Shanappa released Rs 10 lakh each from MPLAD funds. MLC Mukhyamantri Chandru released Rs 5 lakh from MLCLAD funds.

Kannada Development Authority sanctioned Rs 5 lakh, the then MP G S Basavaraju released Rs 3 lakh from MPLAD funds, MLCs S R Leela, Hulinaiker, Y N Narayanaswamy and H S Shivayogiswamy released Rs 2 lakh each. Grants of Rs 53 lakh was made available for the construction of bhavan.

The work was stalled again for want of funds. The stop-start process of construction work of the bhavan has hindered Kannada activities in the taluk. The activities of taluk Kannada parishat has been limited to holding condolence meetings and Rajyotsava functions, rue, Kannada activists in the taluk.

It is frustrating to see the sluggish pace of the construction work of Kannada Bhavan in the town. 16 years on, the construction work refuses to get over. The government has released funds for Kannada Bhavan in a few taluks in the district.

But for some reasons, the government has not released funds to Madhugiri taluk Kannada parishat. The elected representatives of the region should show some will and intent to ensure speedy completion of works of Kannada Bhavan in the taluk, urges K P Nataraj, a Kannada writer.

Meanwhile, the taluk Kannada parishat president C S Krishnamurthy has said that a proposal has been sent to the State government seeking Rs 2 crore for Kannada Bhavan in the town.

Also, the elected representatives in the taluk and the district have been urged to release local area development funds for the bhavan.

Kannada activists and writers including C Krishnappa, Prof Murthy, Srinivas and A Ramchandrappa has urged the government and the elected representatives of the region to take steps to make the funds available and complete the construction work of Kannada Bhavan soon.

So, that the taluk parishat could take up Kannada activities on a priority basis in the Andhra-Karnataka border area.