Mysuru: A Rs.9 crore project to stop flooding permanently at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds is ready.

A huge storm water drain runs through the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) premises on Doddakere Maidan. Whenever it rains heavily, the rainwater overflows into the low-lying area in the exhibition premises causing untold misery to the exhibitors.

Though this problem has been brought to the notice of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and the State Government, no action has been taken. As a result, when rains pounded the heritage city on Sept.26 and Oct.12, water gushed into the Amusement Park area and lakhs of rupees worth play equipment, generators and motors were damaged.

In order to find a permanent solution to stop this havoc, along with constructing a retaining wall to the storm water drain, a comprehensive plan has been prepared.

KEA Chairman Siddaraju and Chief Executive Officer N.M. Shashikumar have prepared a project proposal and estimated cost on the directions of PWD Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa.

The plan projects foundation for the concrete wall and connecting bridges on three sides and the improvement of storm water drain at a cost of Rs.9 crore. A proposal has been submitted for the sanction of the grant.

Proposal submitted

Dr. Mahadevappa had made an inspection of the ground in July itself and asked the authorities concerned to prepare an estimate. In the light of this, PWD Mysuru Circle Superintending Engineer Satyanarayan prepared the estimate and submitted it to the Department’s higher officers seeking grants. Apart from this, the proposal has also been submitted to the PWD Secretary on July 28 itself.

Meanwhile, since it had rained heavily on Oct.12 resulting in huge losses, the PWD Minister had sought the report again and asked them to write to NABARD for grants.

Proposal to NABARD

A request has been sent to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to take up the project for the improvement of storm water drain in the Dasara Exhibition premises.

The Exhibition promotes the State’s art culture, tradition, literature, history and heritage. By establishing permanent sections for horticulture, silk and agriculture, the KEA has joined hands working for rural development.  It has also been the main avenue for promoting all aspects related to agriculture like modern technology, crops, fertiliser, pesticides and species.

Hence, keeping all these aspects, the Authority has sent a proposal to NABARD to sanction Rs.9 crore. This vital project will be taken up through Tourism Department.

Instead of taking up projects widely opposed by the public, it would be better if something more useful like this that benefits everyone is taken up on a war-footing.

900-metre drain development

This project pertains to the 900-metre storm water drain on the KEA grounds that run in between Hardinge Circle and Mahatma Gandhi Road.

The project also includes, apart from constructing concrete foundation, a retaining wall and a small bridge connecting the two sides of the drain.

The bridge will have 8 metre wide, 3 metre high and 91 cm (3 ft) thick wall and the remaining portion will consist of 10 metre wide, 2.5 metre high and 38 cm thick wall.

Along with this, a proposal for concreting the road inside the Exhibition premises at a cost of Rs.7.5 crore has been prepared.