Ensure Dasara celebrations is a people’s affair, Somanna tells officials

Mysuru: “The people, both the locals and the visitors to the city, must be the focus of the Mysuru Dasara celebrations. The officials must make efforts to make the festival a people’s affair. It should not be a festival for the officials,” said Mysuru district in-charge minister V Somanna here on Thursday.
Somanna on Thursday reviewed the preparations for the 10-day fete, speaking to the officials concerned and taking stock of the arrangements for Naada Habba.
Somanna disabused the officials of the notion that funds for the celebrations were scarce. “However, they must use the funds judiciously. Diversion of funds and corruption will not be tolerated. The officials must reach out to other citizens’ organisations to ensure public involvement,” he said.
The minister said that he would sanction funds to ensure that villagers visiting the city to watch the Dasara celebrations would be given a tour of Mysuru. “Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) organises ‘Dasara Darshan’, wherein people from the rural areas are taken to some of the city’s prominent spots. The charge is Rs 50 per person. This year, Dasara Darshan will be offered free of cost to the villagers. KSRTC has planned to provide 204 such trips during the Dasara festival, and their estimation is that this will cost Rs 21 lakh,” Somanna said.
Meanwhile, keen on ensuring that the spectators enjoy the procession on Vijayadashami to the maximum extent, Somanna directed officials to ensure that there was sufficient space around the howdah elephant while it ambled along the thoroughfares of the city. The minister’s instruction comes in the wake of complaints from a few visitors of officials crowding the space around the elephant, depriving them of a glimpse of the howdah. “Chief minister BS Yediyurappa has agreed to disburse Rs 18 crore for the festivities, of which Rs 10 crore will be released by the end of the week,” he added.
Sindhu contacted to inaugurate sports meet
V Somanna, the Mysuru district in-charge minister said that the government had reached out to Olympic medallist and ace shuttler PV Sindhu to inaugurate the Dasara Sports Meet. “However, it is possible that she might be occupied with some other engagement at that juncture. But, Sindhu might visit the city during the Dasara celebrations,” said Somanna.
‘No zero traffic for me’
I will be in Mysuru till September 11 (Wednesday), and will be attending various events during my stay here. I do not want traffic police to ensure zero traffic to ensure hassle-free movement for my convoy. I do not want the people, particularly motorists, to suffer because restrictions put in place on my behalf. I would like to travel like any ordinary commuter when I am in Mysuru.
- V Somanna | Mysuru District In-Charge Minister