Mysuru: People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Mysuru, has strongly criticised the State Government’s proposal to organise a Cauvery (Kaveri) Aarti along with Mysuru Dasara estimated to cost the public exchequer a sum of Rs. 100 crore and against the recommendations of the Department of Finance. The traditional ‘Baagina’ offered to the river whenever KRS fills to the brim, and the Theerthodbhava rites at Talacauvery are enough religious offerings to the river, it said.

Instead of the proposed Cauvery Aarti, PUCL has demanded that the State Government spend the amount and take further initiatives at preventing pollution of the River Cauvery, from the chemicals from fertilisers flowing into the river from different agricultural and industrial pollutants and effluents flowing into it all along its route through Mysuru and onward.