From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 26: Work on erecting the 108-feet tall Kempegwoda statue will kickstart on Saturday with CM BS Yediyurappa performing the Bhoomi Pooja at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
The deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, who is also the chairman of the Kempegowda Development Authority, said that the work on the 23-acre central park around the statue will also begin on Saturday.
At a media conference, Dr Narayan said that in view of the coronavirus situation, the Bhoomi pooja is being organised in a meaningful way with a very few people by ensuring social distancing and without any violations.
The DCM said Yediyurappa will unveil the miniature model of the Kempegowda statue. The programme will be available for viewing on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. One can watch the event by clicking on the link
http://bit.ly/kdbkar .
All ministers, legislators and MPs have been sent the link and can witness the event online on their mobiles from wherever they are and pay tribute to Kempegowda, Dr Narayan said.
Former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Sri Nirmalananda Swami, JSS Mutt pontiff Sri Shivaratri Desikendra Swami and Siddagagna Mutt pontiff Siddalinga Swamy will grace the occasion besides Opposition leaders and officials concerned, Dr Narayan said.
The Rs 78-crore project executed by the Kempegowda Development Authority will be completed within a year, the deputy CM said. Once completed, the Kempegowda International Airport authority will maintain the park and the statue.
The DCM stated that the project is not being done with an aim to compete with others. On the height of the statue, the deputy CM said that 108-feet was decided for technical reasons.
To a question on KPCC president DK Shivakumar suggesting the government to make airport authority to fund the project, Dr Narayan said that it was the wish of the CM to take up the project through the Kempegowda Development Authority and by the government.
Noted sculptor Ram Sutar who installed the Mahatma Gandhi statue between Vikasa Soudha and Vidhana Soudha besides the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has been given the job to design the Kempegowda statue.
Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited has designed the entire project.
"It is our government's intention to construct this memorial to remember and create awareness on visionary Kempegowda who founded Bengaluru 500 years ago and made it accommodative for all castes and religions," Dr Narayan said.
Kempegowda while founding Bengaluru took into consideration the cultural and religious aspects in addition to market areas, tanks, drainage system, green cover at par with any global city, the deputy CM said.
It was the Yediyurappa-led government which had passed a resolution to name the international airport after Kempegowda. The BJP led NDA government at the Centre approved it, he said.
Dr Narayan said that though there was a demand for installation of Kempegowda statue there was no progress. "Soon after Yediyurappa returned to power, he approved the project," he said.
Development of Kempapura
Dr Narayan said that the government will develop Kempapura in Magadi taluk (Ramangara district) where Kempegowda's tomb exists as a historical destination.
An entire village will be developed in the name of Kempegowda and will be converted into an all-season touring centre.
Dr Narayan said that iDeCK is already working on the design to develop the village and the burial place of Kempegowda.
Besides Kempapura, Avathi, Shivagange, Bengaluru, Magadi and other places wherever Kempegowda has worked will be comprehensively developed, the deputy CM said.