The Congress government in Karnataka is gearing up to organise Cauvery Aarti on the lines of Ganga Aarti, a religious ceremony performed on the banks of river Ganga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the plan of the State Government to organise Cauvery Aarti on the banks of river Cauvery, which is the lifeline of the people in many parts of southern Karnataka, after a visit to KRS reservoir in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district on July 22.
Committee expected to submit report in 30 days
Mr. Shivakumar, who holds the Major Irrigation portfolio, plans to constitute a team of legislators from the Cauvery belt in Mandya, Mysuru and Kodagu districts, under the leadership of Minister for Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy, to visit Varanasi, watch the Ganga Aarti and submit a report to the State Government in the next 30 days.
The team will include officials from the Department of Religious Endowment and Irrigation. A team from Varanasi will be invited to Karnataka to assist local officials in organising the Cauvery Aarti, including identifying the exact spot for the event.
The proposed Cauvery Aarti will not only provide a boost to tourism, but also attract the devout in view of the sanctity people attach to river Cauvery.
Filling lakes and sowing target
With the water level in the KRS reservoir reaching the brim and the Irrigation Department opening its crest gates, Mr. Shivakumar said instructions had been issued to officials to clear channels connected to lakes in the Cauvery command area, and ensure that water bodies are filled up. The Cauvery command area has 1,657 lakes.
Unlike 2023 when farmers in Karnataka faced difficulties due to drought, most parts of the State have reported a good monsoon this year.
The Agriculture Department has set a target of sowing 2 lakh hectares of land in southern Karnataka. The State has a stock of 5.90 lakh quintals of seeds and 27 lakh tonnes of fertilisers. Around 30 lakh farmers are expected to be given about ₹25,000 crore interest-free agriculture loan through co-operative banks, the Minister said.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar (2nd from left) visited KRS reservoir near Mysuru on July 22, 2024. He was accompanied by Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy (2nd from right) and Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar (right). | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Mr. Shivakumar inspected the water level in the KRS reservoir and met officials. He was accompanied by Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy, who is the Minister in charge of Mandya district, Srirangapatna MLA Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda, Maddur MLA K.M. Uday, Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah, MLC Dinesh Gooligowda, Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar, and other senior officials.
