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| Sands of Talkad being carted away by 'miners' |
| BS Reporter / Chennai/ Mysore Jul 28, 2009, 00:58 IST |
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Karnataka often claims it is improving infrastructure in its tourist centres to draw more tourists and pilgrims for special occasions. Mysore district incharge minister Shoba Karandlaje, who is also minister for rural development and Panchayat Raj, had a bitter experience about this claim on Saturday last when she travelled to Talkad, a pilgrim centre, about 45 km from Mysore.
After inspecting the ongoing works for November’s major event in this town of sand dunes, ‘Panchalinga Darshana’, she told reporters who accompanied her: “Your bones must have settled down after the travel.” It reflected the condition of the road to Talkad. This road leads to the Cauvery falls, Sivasamudram, now in its full glory.
The over 60-minute bumpy ride on the dusty road, she remarked on reaching Talkad: “My God! How bad are the roads here?” This road was asphalted only three years ago.
The last time the five temples were cleared of sands that covered them was in 2006. The temples are thrown open to pilgrims once in 12 years. The connecting roads to Talkad were spruced up for around Rs 36 crore. The works were taken up hurriedly on the eve of the festival, then in November.
The then public works minister, H D Revenna, promised the villagers that the government would upgrade facilities like drinking water, sanitation and bus shelters for the pilgrims to converge for the occasion, similar to the promise of Shoba to the villagers on Saturday addressing them in front of the Vydyanatheswara Temple. Revanna had reviewed the works on October 13, seven days before the festival.
After travelling on the 45-km road, Shoba blamed the unchecked exploitation of sand resulting and operation of sand-laden trucks on the Talakad and T Narasipur roads for their condition. The villagers were, however, critical of the government for not banning sand mining that was destroying the environment in the surrounding areas. They accused the previous government of failing on its promises held out on the eve of last darshana.
Shoba promised that the state government would spend Rs 120 crore on infrastructure, including Rs 90 crore for development of roads connecting Talkad from Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajanagar. The bridge across Kapila, connecting T Narasipur and Kollegal would be repaired, which had been badly damaged because of the heavy movement of sand-laden heavy trucks day and night. She promised that the roads would be on a par with the state highways. One way would be introduced during the festival and sand mining would be banned from August to December.
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