PWD officials told to complete road works ahead of Dasara

District in-charge secretary M Lakshminarayana has directed officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to complete all road and footpath works soon.

He was chairing a meeting to review the development works ahead of Mysuru-Dasara at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Friday. He 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 September 21.

The secretary asked the officials to clear the jungle on the median on the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway between Srirangapatna and Mysuru. “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. The PED would release the funds for the works and the officials need not depend on the NHAI,” Lakshminarayana said.

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 girls and women participants during the Dasara events.

Deputy Commissioner, also Dasara Special Officer, D Randeep informed that the state government will provide Rs 15 crore for Dasara celebrations. Of this, Rs 1 crore and Rs 50 lakh will be spent on Dasara celebrations in Chamarajanagar and Srirangapatna respectively.

The DC said that the Dasara celebration committee will visit members of the erstwhile royal family on September 11 to invite them to participate in the Dasara festivities. The DC said that Indian women cricketers from Karnataka, Veda Krishnamurthy and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, would take part in the inaugural ceremony of the Dasara Sports meet.

Randeep 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, Visista and Vikyata — have been planned and all the events will be held at Jaganmohan Palace. Musician Hamsalekha, poet Siddalingaiah, District in-charge Minister H C Mahadevappa and MLAs will attend the inaugural ceremony.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) P Shivashankar, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikram Amte and Nanjangud Sub-Division Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) M S Mohammad Sujeetha were present.

DH News Service