Twin district soak in Independence Day fervour

Colourful parades and cultural programmes marked the 71st Independence Day celebrations across Kolar and Chikkaballapur on Tuesday.

The morning drizzle didn't deter the enthusiastic patriotic crowd in Kolar. Dark clouds which hovered above around 7 am soon paved way for bright sun. Students, police personnel, officials and people from all section of society marched towards the stadium. The programme began at 9 am as scheduled.

Tight security was provided at the stadium with metal detectors installed at the entrance. The police frisked every individual entering the stadium.

Schoolchildren, contingents of police personnel, Seva Dal, Bharat Scouts and Guides, NCC and Home Guards added colour to the Independence Day parade. Cultural programmes by schoolchildren were an added attraction.

Apart from the public function at the stadium, people from various section of society observed Independence Day. Schools and colleges, government offices, banks and courts hoisted the Tricolour at their respective office premises. Patriotic fervour was in the air as motorcyclists and autos plied with the Tricolour.

Speaking after unfurling the National Flag at the stadium, district in-charge minister K R Ramesh Kumar said that the work on KC Valley project was progressing briskly and the tanks in Kolar district would get water by the end of October.

He said that the finance department cleared the project on May 8, 2016 and foundation stone was laid on November 13 the same year. "It was planned to flow water to the district by completing the project within nine months. But, the work is delayed on account of non-cooperation from the National Highways Authority of India," he said.

The minister claimed that no irrigation project in the country had progressed at this speed. The work of interlinking Krishna and Godavari river water in Andhra Pradesh was completed in 11 months. "I hope KC Valley project too will be completed on similar lines in 11 months."

The undivided Kolar district did not have much avenues for higher education. With the objective of addressing this issue, Bangalore North university has been set up in Kolar. The varsity will start working this academic year. Government land has been earmarked for residential degree college in Mulbagal. A super specialty hospital will be set up in Srinivaspur taluk, he said.

Laptops were distributed to meritorious SSLC students on the occasion. Lok Sabha member K H Muniyappa, legislator Varthur Prakash, Zilla Panchayat president Geetha, Taluk Panchayat president M Anjinappa, municipal president Mahalakshmi, Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Trilok Chandra, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer B B Kaveri, Superintendent of Police Rohini Katoch Sepat and Additional Deputy Commissioner Vidyakumari were present.

Chikkaballapur district in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy hoisted the Tricolour at Sir M Vishveshwaraiah stadium in Chikkaballapur.

As many as 19 contingents led by Parade Commander L N Nagendra Prasad took part in the parade. The contingents of district armed reserve, civilian police, women's platoon, district home guards, NCC cadets from government first grade college and PU college, students of New Horizon, St Joesph, Panchagiri Bodhana High School, Poornaprajna, Sir M V Indian Public Schools, Prashanthi Balamandir, Bright governmnet school took part in the parade.

The presidents of eight gram panchayats, which have been declared free from open defecation, were felicitated on the occasion.

Students of four high schools presented cultural programmes. The students of Sairam International School presented a dance drama with 775-foot Tricolour.

District in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy, who spoke at the programme, said that the new KSRTC bus stand in Chikkaballapur, constructed at a cost of Rs 9.92 crore would soon be inaugurated. He said that quarters would be constructed for KSRTC employees in Gauribidanur taluk.

Legislator Dr K Sudhakar, Zilla Panchayat president P N Keshava Reddy, Deputy Commissioner Deepti Kanade were present.