No amnesty for stone-pelters
The Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration have decided not to grant any further relief to those involved in incidents of stone pelting, even if they are first-time offenders.
Home ministry sources said the earlier decision of withdrawing such cases during the tenure of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was an “isolated incident” and no amnesty from now on would be given to stone pelters. Earlier this year, both the Centre and the J&K Government, in which the BJP was a coalition partner, had decided to grant amnesty.
Bengaluru, Nov. 15: The Karnataka government is mulling a proposal to upgrade the Brindavan gardens adjoining the Krishnarajasagara dam, on the lines of Disneyland that includes installation of a mammoth watch tower statue of “Mother Cauvery.”
Water resources minister D.K. Shivakumar along with tourism minister Sa Ra Mahesh had held a meeting with officials from the water resources and the tourism departments on Wednesday regarding this, officials said.
“Statue is just a part of it. The government in the budget for tourism purpose has provisioned for up-gradation of Brindavan Gardens that has musical fountain. We want to upgrade it on the lines of Disney land,” Shivakumar said on Thursday.
He said concepts had come from architects depicting Karnataka’s rich culturual heritage and architecture. “The concept includes a tall towering statue like of Mother Cauvery that includes a lift from where visitors can view the dam and surrounding areas from the gallery. We have seen the concept and have given certain suggestions,” he said adding that a global tender would be called for investing into the project.
The minister also clarified that, it is just a concept and the proposal in this regard is yet to come before the cabinet.
Chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in his first everbudget presented on July 5, had proposed to bring back the grandeur of Brindavan Gardens and Krishnarajasagara dam by developing it on the model of America’s Disneyland with publicprivate participation.
Global industrialists are eager to invest in the project, Mr Kumaraswamy, who also holds Finance portfolio, had said in his budget speech, while providing `5 crore to prepare the detailed project report.
Noting that about 300 acre land was available for the purpose, the minister not wanting to divulge much said, “we are working out for more land if required.” “There is sufficient land. We want to do this without affecting the public,” he said.
Asked about the project cost, Shivakumar said, private partners would invest and the government would only invest in the initial stage.
“I don’t want to detail much on how the project will be now itself,” he said not wishing to share details on the height of the proposed statue. To a query on Congress’ opposition to ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat and proposed Ram statue in UP, Shivakumar said, the proposal was not just for statue, it is a theme park with an aim to promote tourism. —PTI