Date:09/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/09/stories/2008010955770300.htm

Karnataka - Gulbarga

Heritage clubs in colleges soon

Special Correspondent

GULBARGA: Commissioner for Archaeology and Museums Venkatesh Machakanavar on Tuesday said that the department had decided to establish heritage clubs in select colleges in all districts.

Presiding over the inaugural function of a week-long training camp on painting of historical monuments for artists organised jointly by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, district administration and the Ideal Fine Arts Society here, Mr. Machakanavar said that the department was ready to set up the Deputy Director’s office in Gulbarga district to undertake maintenance of historical monuments in Hyderabad Karnataka region.

He, however, said that no decision had been taken and a proposal in this regard has been sent to the government.

The department had prepared a handbook on the monuments in these cities for tourists visiting these cities.

Mr. Machakanavar said that a training camp for artists would be held in Bidar next year. To woo tourists to the historic cities of Gulbarga and Bidar, paintings of the monuments would be exhibited at important places. Deputy Commissioner Pankajkumar Pandey announced the sanction of a half acre of land for the construction of an art museum in Gulbarga. The former chairman of Lalitkala Academy V.G. Andani spoke. More than 10 reputed artists, including Andani, Nadoja J.S. Khanderao, Nagarathna Mallikarjun Sethi and Jagadish Kamble were present.