Bantwal: Foundation Stones—A Mute Testimony of Government Apathy to Development
News and Pics by Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD/CN)
Bantwal, Jan 17: ‘Every sculpture has its own tale to convey…’ goes a hit Kannada song. So do several foundation stones laid for various projects across the taluk over the past few months.
The foundation stone laid for the construction of the Kannada Bhavan, amphitheater, agricultural community building, KSRTC bus terminus, are all still pending. All these projects are long awaited demands of the entire populace of the taluk. Most of these foundation stones were laid during the time MLA Ramanath Rai served as a minister. They are mute testimony to the apathy of the state administration.
Kannada Bhavan:
The foundation stone laid for construction of Kannada Bhavan near APMC Complex at B C Road is surrounded by wild vegetation. It was laid by then Kannada and culture minister Rani Satish during the 11th Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held here. Since then, though several Kannada literary programmes including Sahitya Sammelan have been organized here no headway has been made on the construction of the Kannada Bhavan. The taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishat has also shown a lack of interest in the matter.
Amphitheater:
The taluk center of B C Road has no organized theater to stage plays and cultural programmes. A foundation stone was laid for the construction of an amphitheater in front of Ashram School, in March 2002 when MLA Ramanath Rai was a minister. However, the project has remained on the backburner so far causing extreme distress to theatre enthusiasts and artistes alike.
Agricultural Community Bhavan:
The foundation stone was laid for the Agricultural Community Bhavan located near agriculture department office, on the way to the local taluk panchayat seems to mock passersby. The peasants quietly curse the administration for not constructing the building here. This foundation stone was also laid during the tenure of MLA Ramanath Rai as minister in September 2002. The foundation stone laying ceremony was held with gaiety under the leadership of peasants’ leader Sarapady Subbanna Shetty. Other than the frequent repainting of the foundation stone no other progress is evident here.
KSRTC Bus Terminus:
The foundation stone for the KSRTC bus terminus was laid by then transport minister B Ramanath Rai on February 2004 at Ponnody, near Kaikamba at B C Road. People’s representatives including former Rajya Sabha member B Janardhan Poojary attended this ceremony and delivered lengthy speeches. Although five years have passed since, the bus terminus has not come up yet. The proposed site has been used by sand traders to stock sand.
Picot Irrigation:
The foundation stone laid for the introduction of picot irrigation for the benefit of farmers of Sajipamuda and Sajipamunnur, for the past 33 years is a classic example of apathy of peoples' representatives and department officers.
Despite the Netravati river flowing through the neighbourhood, the farmers face a scarcity of water. The residents of both villages proposed the setting up of picot irrigation in the area to ensure regular supply of water for both domestic and irrigation purposes.
Former Vittal MLA Rukmaya Poojary also supported the irrigation project and managed to get government approval. Then Vittal MLA Padmanabha Kottari pursued the project and got Rs 3 crore for it during the reign of chief minister Kumaraswamy in 2007. Former deputy chief minister and current chief minister B S Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone on August 27, 2007.
However, the jubilation did not last long as work did not begin on the project since the foundation stone was laid. The sign board for the project has also corroded due to exposure to the elements. However, the villages have not lost hope and are pursuing their mission by forming a Netravati picot irrigation committee and have approached Ramanath Rai and Coastal Development Authority chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, to begin work soon.
The foundation stones were also laid for the construction of a fire brigade, Suvarna Souda, Panje Mangeshwar Rao auditorium and the like but all share the same fate.