Date:17/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/17/stories/2006021703890400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Proposal to renovate Sahitya Parishat building continues to hang fire

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

Plan submitted directly to Government held up owing to procedural lapses

DILAPIDATED STATE: A view of Krishnaraja Parishanmandira, which houses the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, at Chamarajpet in Bangalore. — Photo: K. BHAGYA PRAKASH

BANGALORE: Two proposals submitted to the Government by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat for renovating the historical Sri Krishnaraja Parishanmandira and taking up five development works to mark "Suvarna Karnataka" have been held up owing to procedural lapses. The renovation of the 73-year-old parishat building, at Chamarajpet here is estimated to cost Rs. 5 crores and the five development works Rs. 2 crores.

On January 16, 2006, the parishat submitted the proposals to the then Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the then Finance Minster, P.G.R. Sindhia, bypassing the Department of Kannada and Culture. It also handed over copies of the proposals to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture.

The proposal to renovate the Parishanmandira has been a bone of contention since 1987.

In its proposal on renovation, the parishat has said: "The building in question was built in 1933 and is now in a ruined state. The parishat has decided to construct a four-storey building utilising the vacant space in its backyard, retaining the design of the front portion. The new structure could be raised, including the cellar portion, at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crores. The blueprint and the details of the estimate will be made available shortly."

Sources told The Hindu that going by the norms the parishat should have approached the Government through the Department of Kannada and Culture. It can approach the Government directly, but any proposal submitted directly to the Government is delayed by the bureaucracy. The parishat is said to have committed a "double fault." First, it submitted the proposals to the Government at a sensitive political juncture and, second, it sought Rs. 5 crores as a grant for building (renovating) the structure on its own even as the Government Order on the renovation issue is pending before the Bangalore Development Authority, the sources said.

Fifth such proposal

The renovation proposal is the fifth submitted by the premier cultural institution. Its earlier attempts in that direction proved abortive. The very idea of renovation had created a ruckus in literary circles. The parishat made efforts to get the Parishanmandira renovated in 1987, 1995, 2003 and 2005.

In 1987, the parishat, then headed by Ham. Pa. Nagarajaiah, prepared a blueprint to build a new structure in place of the Krishnaraja Parishanmandira. But the Ramakrishna Hegde Government left the decision to the Executive Committee of the parishat, which was divided over the issue.

(To be concluded)