K’taka to build 125-ft Cauvery statue on river

THE STATUE, ON A 200FOOTHIGH PEDESTAL, A MUSEUM, GLASS HOUSE, INDOOR STADIUM AND OTHER AMENITIES WILL BE BUILT TO PROMOTE TOURISM

BENGALURU: A 125-foot tall statue of Cauvery in the form of a woman, a tribute to the river that originates in the southern region of Karnataka, is set to come up in the state, irrigation minister DK Shivakumar announced. The statue, on a 200-foot-high pedestal, a museum, glass house, indoor stadium and other amenities will be built to promote tourism near the famous Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir in Mandya district. Estimated to cost about ₹1,200 crore, the project will be completed in two years and the government is looking to attract private investors. Shivakumar said the state would provide the land for the project and the entire cost of the project would be borne by private entities, with tourism revenue being the pay-off.

The Cauvery is worshipped in parts of the state. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu fought a protracted legal battle over sharing the river’s waters and the issue remains a sensitive one in the state which believes it got the short end of that resolution.

The project, the official said, is a redevelopment of Brindavan Gardens, a park just outside KRS, and once a popular location for movie shoots. An artificial lake will be created within this premises and the statue will be located at the heart of the lake.