Mangalore: Karavali Utsav Begins in Mangalore

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Pic: Dayananda Kukkaje

Mangalore, Dec 23: I M Vittal Murthy, secretary, department of Kannada and culture, information and tourism, on Saturday Dec 22 promised a grant of Rs 1 crore for the Ranga Mandira project in the district.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the Karavali Utsav-2007 here, Murthy said the grants would be released before the end of the current financial year. “More will come in the next financial year,” he added.

Lamenting over the district having no Ranga Mandira, he said the project, conceived 24 years ago during the time of former chief minister R Gundu Rao in 1983, could not materialize due to various reasons. As a result, the project cost had risen to Rs 15 crore.

Terming Karavali Utsav as a model utsav, Murthy said the event was inculcating novelty by the year. Referring to the potential for tourism in the district, he said tourism should develop promoting the cultural heritage of the region. “Instead of allowing the outsiders to take benefit of tourism potentials here, the locals should be benefitted...” he said.

Murthy released the Kannada book of short plays Athri Munigala Ashramadalli Seethe authored by novelist Leela R Bhat on the occasion.

Earlier inaugurating the event, DK Zilla Panchayat president K P Sucharith Shetty said the Utsav, besides promoting the cultural activities, has also helped self-help groups to market their products. Referring to the industrial investment proposed for the district, Shetty said economic development should also help promote local cultural heritage at the global level.

In his introductory speech, Kannada Sahitha Parishat district president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura demanded for the early completion of the Ranga Mandira project. He said 95 teams with more than 1,000 artistes have been provided opportunity at the event.