Celebration in the time of drought in Haveri

Arid Haveri gears up for zilla utsav defying a govt order

The Kannada and Culture Department seems to be fiddling while Haveri is drying.

Defying a government order not to celebrate zilla utsav this year owing to severe drought conditions in the district, the department has gone ahead and sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for the festivities.

A circular issued by the under secretary to the Kannada and Culture and Information Department, H V Ramachandra Rao, on January 22, directed the deputy commissioners of all the drought-prone districts in the State to drop zilla utsavs, including the Hampi Utsav, Kadambotsava, Hoysalotsava, Chalukya Utsav, Lakkundi Utsav, Kittur Utsav, Dharwad Utsav, Basava Utsav, Kanakagiri Utsav and Anegundi Utsav, as it would be inappropriate to indulge in celebrations when the people were suffering.

The State government has declared 91 taluks drought-hit. Two taluks in Haveri are facing drought pangs with cattle having no fodder and water to drink. However, in defiance of the circular, the department has given a grant of Rs 20 lakh to Haveri, and Rs 30 lakh to Davanagere district, for the zilla utsavs.

Three-day fest
The fifth Haveri Utsav will be held for three days from February 11 in Byadgi town. Last year, Haveri got Rs 10 lakh. Since it has received Rs 20 lakh this year, festivities will be much more pompous, and preparations are already on in full swing.

The utsav has been allowed in Davanagere as none of its taluks is declared drought-hit. Bidar Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla said he would drop all preparations for the Basava Utsav in the district scheduled for March.  The Kannada and Culture Department has allocated Rs 30 lakh for the Basava Utsav.