<p>Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will lay the foundation stone for the construction of a 108 feet statue of Bengaluru founder Kempegowda near the city’s airport on Saturday.</p>.<p>Former prime minister H D Devegowda, Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Nirmalananda Swami, JSS Mutt pontiff Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami and Siddagagna Mutt pontiff Siddalinga Swamy, among others will attend the event, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan told reporters.</p>.<p>Narayan is also the chairman of the Kempegowda Development Authority that is executing the project that is estimated to cost Rs 78 crore. He said it will be completed within a year. “The height of the statue will be 108 feet. It’s not a competition. The height was decided based on technical reasons and enough homework has been done,” he said.</p>.<p>Narayan said that the government will develop Kempapura in Magadi taluk, where Kempegowda's tomb exists, as a historical destination. “The entire village will be developed in the name of Kempegowda and will be converted into an all-season tourist centre,” he said, adding that Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited (iDeCK) was working on a design to develop the village and Kempegowda’s burial place.</p>
<p>Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will lay the foundation stone for the construction of a 108 feet statue of Bengaluru founder Kempegowda near the city’s airport on Saturday.</p>.<p>Former prime minister H D Devegowda, Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Nirmalananda Swami, JSS Mutt pontiff Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami and Siddagagna Mutt pontiff Siddalinga Swamy, among others will attend the event, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan told reporters.</p>.<p>Narayan is also the chairman of the Kempegowda Development Authority that is executing the project that is estimated to cost Rs 78 crore. He said it will be completed within a year. “The height of the statue will be 108 feet. It’s not a competition. The height was decided based on technical reasons and enough homework has been done,” he said.</p>.<p>Narayan said that the government will develop Kempapura in Magadi taluk, where Kempegowda's tomb exists, as a historical destination. “The entire village will be developed in the name of Kempegowda and will be converted into an all-season tourist centre,” he said, adding that Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited (iDeCK) was working on a design to develop the village and Kempegowda’s burial place.</p>
