‘Govt must install statues of all dewans, engineers’

Mandya: Historian Nanjaraj Urs has opposed the installation of Sir M Visvesvaraya’s statute along with that of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at the entrance to KRS reservoir here.
Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Urs said that glorifying Visvesvarya as the sole person behind the construction of Krishnarajasagar (KRS) reservoir is akin to meting out injustice to Wadiyar, and scores of dewans and chief engineers who had strived hard to build it.
“KRS was built under the leadership of five dewans, including Visvesvaraya, and many chief engineers. How can only Visvesvaraya be considered as the sole architect of KRS? How can Mysuru history forget the dedication of Wadiyar and his wife Pratapa Kumari Ammanni, who had given away her jewellery in the crisis hour to complete the reservoir project?” Urs asked.
“So the government must install the statutes of all dewans and chief engineers who have worked for KRS, as also Pratapa Kumari Ammanni,” he said.
Urs also clarified that they are aware of the immense contribution by Visvesvaraya in making prosperous the erstwhile Mysore Princely State. “But we don’t want Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar’s contribution be eclipsed with the glorification of Visvesvaraya as the sole person behind building the dam,” he said, adding that they would launch an agitation if the government goes ahead with installing the statue of only Visvesvaraya alongside Waidyear’s.