Mysuru: District in-Charge Secretary M. Lakshminarayana has directed the officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to complete all road and footpath works days before Dasara for the convenience of lakhs of tourists who come to the city for the annual festivities.

He was chairing a meeting to review the development works ahead of Mysuru Dasara at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Friday. Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, ZP CEO P. Shivashankar, Additional Deputy Commissioner T. Yogesh, MUDA Commissioner Dr. M. Mahesh (he has now been transferred as the Private Secretary to Transport Minister H.M. Revanna), Dy. Commissioner of Police (Crime & Traffic) Dr. Vikram V. Amathe, Nanjangud Division Assistant Superintendent of Police M.S. Mohammad Sujeetha and other officials were present.  

Lakshminarayana said that a large number of tourists visit the city so the roads and footpath works should be completed well in time for Dasara on Sept. 21. He asked the officials to clear the jungle on the median on the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway between Srirangapatna and Mysuru. Making a special mention of the Rajamarga from Mysore Palace to Bannimantap, he asked the officials to speed up road and footpath repair works.

“Though the highway is maintained by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the PWD can take up the works as Dasara will be celebrated in Srirangapatna too. He urged members of various Dasara Sub-Committees to maintain good coordination between them and the departments. He also urged them to take extra care about women and child participants during the Dasara.

Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep who is also Dasara Special Officer informed that the State Government will provide Rs.15 crore for Dasara celebrations. The government has already released Rs.10 crore. Of this, Rs.1.50 crore will be spent on Dasara celebrations in Chamarajanagar and Mandya respectively.

He said that the members of various committees are working to make Dasara celebrations a success and explained that other events such as ‘Yoga Dasara’,  ‘Women and Children Dasara’, and ‘Food Mela’ will also be held.

Deputy Director for Public Instruction (DDPI) B.K.S. Vardhan, who is also the Deputy Special Officer for ‘Dasara Kavigoshti,’ said that this time, four sessions — Vikasa, Vinoda, Visishta and Vikyata — have been planned and all the events will be held at Jaganmohan Palace.

DESI GAMES FOR FARMERS

Lakshminarayana urged the Raitha Dasara Sub-Committee members to organise a variety of desi games for farmers during the festival. He directed the members to organise desi games such as kabaddi and kho-kho for members of the farming community.

“Villagers are physically fit and by organising a variety of events for them, the celebrations can be made interesting. The Sub-Committee members should also get inputs from farmers before planning the events,” he suggested.

Sub-Committee Working President and Joint Director for Agriculture K. Somasundar said that competitions such as ‘Hopping with a Gunny Bag’, ‘Stone Ball Lifting’, ‘Running with a fertiliser bag’, ‘Lemon and Spoon’, ‘Running with a pot of water’, etc., have been organised.

Lakshminarayana directed the Dasara Film Sub-Committee members to seek suggestions from Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to make the film festival more attractive.