Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Oct 13: The grant of Rs 1 crore sanctioned by the state government to develop the Balavana at Parladka here into a heritage site could not be utilised so far.

During the previous two years, only discussions have taken place about the implementation of the plan. Recently, after district in-charge minister, Kota Srinivas Poojary, evinced interest to implement an integrated project to transform Balavana into a heritage site, MLA Sanjeev Matandoor took interest and got a proposal for a mega project with an outlay of Rs 20 crore prepared.

The Balavana area is spread over 5.9 acres of land that has rich vegetation. The area has a house of Dr Karanth, printing press, theatre, library, and also houses the Jnanpith award of Dr Shivaram Karanth. The entire site has been bought by the government, and the Kannada and culture department has been taking care of their property. When the house where Dr Karanth lived became dilapidated and its roof started to leak during the rainy season, the then minister Umashree in 2015, released a grant of Rs 29 lac to renovate the house. The renovation was completed and dedicated in 2019.

Puttur MLA Sanjeev Matandoor says that minister Kota Srinivas Poojary dreams of the place where Dr Shivaram Karanth worked and visualised great things, to be converted into a heritage site that should become famous all over the country. He said that a megaproject has been prepared for the development, and Balavana Abhivrudhi Samiti had met online last month to discuss the project. He said because of COVID further steps could not be taken.