Mysuru:  Minister for Tourism S.R. Mahesh has asserted that Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) is ready to organise the Dasara Exhibition if none of the private players participate in the tender process.

Speaking to press persons at K.R. Nagar yesterday Mahesh said that Sept. 28 was the last day for submitting applications for the tender for the second time and added that if KEA organises the expo, stall owners would be benefited with cheaper rent and government too would get good revenue. He contended that goods would be made available at reasonable and affordable rates to visitors at Dasara Exhibition. He recalled that 14 years ago when KEA organised the expo, garments, home appliances, food and other items were made available to visitors at cheaper rates as the shop keepers were getting the stalls a lower rent. He added that KEA could net a profit of over Rs. 2 crore then.

Mysore Industries Association Secretary Suresh Kumar Jain has expressed happiness over the Minister’s assurance of KEA organising the expo. He said that ‘Industrial Bazaar’ was suspended after the expo was given contract to private player. He added that the Bazaar had helped the visitors at the expo get familiar with goods manufactured in Mysuru region.

Women entrepreneur Malini Srinivasan feels that KEA alone should organise the expo to make goods available at cheaper rates which would ensure social justice.

Several women entrepreneurs opined that KEA should offer stalls at very cheap rates or free in deserving cases to women entrepreneurs to showcase their products.

The Minister’s assurance has brought cheers on faces of people hoping that goods from all over the country would be available at cheaper rates at the expo.