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Valmiki statue to be installed near Soudha

BBMP, PWD, Horticulture hold joint survey for location
Last Updated 25 July 2015, 19:53 IST

The obsession for installing statues in and around Vidhana Soudha and the State Secretariat seems to have not ended. This despite, too many statues being installed in public places and increasing number of desecration of statues.

A 12-foot tall statue of Maharshi Valmiki may soon be installed outside the east gate of the Vidhana Soudha (facing the High Court) on a stretch of land abutting the Raj Bhavan. Sage Valmiki is considered as the poet of poets. A joint survey by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the Public Works Department and the Horticulture department on identifying the land was held on Saturday.

Congress MLC V S Ugrappa, who has taken the lead for the initiative, said it was decided not to instal the statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises. However, he said it was befitting that a statue of Valmiki be installed at a prime location in the State Capital. The State government had already declared a holiday to mark Valmiki Jayanthi.

The statue would be carved in Mahabalipuram from a monolith. Various groups associated with the politically-strong Valmiki community would be funding the project. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has given a go ahead for the project, he said.

The State government may have to amend the Parks (Conservation) Act, 2013, as the Karnataka High Court had set restrictions for installation of statutes in the vicinity of the Vidhana Soudha and the Vikasa Soudha because both the buildings are located in the Cubbon Park premises. The law bans any kind of construction in the Cubbon Park area.

Last year, a 27-feet bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was installed in the space between the Vidhana Soudha and the Vikasa Soudha. There are about five statues of VIPs on the Vidhana Soudha premises.

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(Published 25 July 2015, 19:53 IST)

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