• Government forms Dasara Kambala Sub-Committee
• Two racing tracks being prepared for maiden Dasara Kambala event on Oct. 18-19

Mysuru: Groundwork for hosting the traditional coastal Karnataka sport Kambala as part of this year’s Mysuru Dasara celebrations has begun at Sathagalli, near the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Regional Centre along the Outer Ring Road, even as opposition to the event continues.

Despite criticism and environmental concerns, the State Government has begun preparing the venue, deploying earthmovers and excavators to clear and level the land for the racing tracks.

Work has begun on two parallel racing tracks, each 250 metres long and 50 feet wide. The two tracks will allow paired buffaloes to race simultaneously. Heavy machinery has been deployed for land preparation and track construction.

The event is planned on 17 acres and 35 guntas of Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) land spread across Survey Nos. 85, 88, 106 and 107 at Sathagalli. The site has been handed over to Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), which plans to construct a Cycling Velodrome there, after Kambala event.

Multiple borewells to be dug

As the slushy tracks will require a large quantity of water, officials have begun ground surveys to identify suitable locations for borewells. Experts from the Department of Mines and Geology have been roped in to identify high-yield groundwater sources.

Multiple borewells may be dug based on the experts’ recommendations to ensure an uninterrupted water supply during the event. Officials said, existing trees at the site are being retained and incorporated into the layout instead of being felled during the land preparation.

Dasara Kambala Sub-Committee

The State Government has now constituted a Dasara Kambala Sub-Committee to oversee the event, with its members supervising the ongoing works.

The Government has increased the number of Dasara Sub-Committees this year from 17 to 18 by creating a separate Committee for Kambala. Organisers are also planning a traditional ritual at the venue to mark the completion of the tracks.

Mysuru Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO S. Ukesh Kumar has been appointed the Deputy Special Officer for the Dasara Kambala Committee, while ZP Deputy Secretary Bheemappa K. Lali is the Working President.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (Territorial) K. Paramesh has been appointed Assistant Working President, Public Works Department Executive Engineer Padmanabha as Secretary and Mysuru City Corporation Assistant Executive Engineer Mythri as Assistant Secretary.