As the dates of the 84th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan are fast approaching, the district administration has expedited the works around the city.
Apart from embarking on a mass cleanliness drive, it has chalked out plans for the beautification of the main locations of the city. Almost the entire government machinery has been engaged in this task in one or the other way.
On Friday, several members of voluntary organisations, Kannada outfits and others participated in the cleanliness drive. Deputy Commissioner M. Deepa, zilla panchayat CEO B.C. Satish, and others led the drive. Poet A.V. Airsang took part too. The drive was launched at the Karnatak College Dharwad (KCD) grounds and held at KCD Circle, Jubilee Circle and other locations.
Ms. Deepa said the drive would continue till the event ended. At present 20 teams have been formed to clean the medians, roads and vacant areas. If required, more teams would be formed for the drive, she said, and appealed to the public to shun dumping of waste on roads and in vacant areas.
Mr. Satish, who is also chairman, finance committee of the sammelan, at a meeting on Thursday, said beautification works of important locations would be taken up. It has been decided to give facelift to circles and other places. Local private entrepreneurs would be roped in for this. The compound walls of all offices of the government departments and semi-government organisations would be painted with the help of local artists. Mr. Satish directed that the compound walls be painted with portraits of eminent men of letters, artists, scholars, scientists, musicians, places of historical and tourist interests and others.