Mangalore : Delay in completion of Town Hall works attracted the wrath of Kannada and Culture minister Umashree, here, on Thursday.The minister, who held a review meeting regarding the cultural activities taken up during Dasara complained that despite having no dearth of funds, works were progressing at a crawling pace.

Mysore City Corporation Commissioner, C G Betsurmath said that works at the Town Hall has been speeded up and the Hall will be used as a venue for Dasara cultural programmes during the year.

The commissioner said that following the completion of floor works of the Hall, chairs were being installed from Thursday. Around 25 chairs had already been placed in the Hall, which has a seating capacity of 350.

Betsurmath said that Town Hall would be ready within the next ten days. “After inspecting the works of the Town Hall on Wednesday, we have set a deadline of September 18 for completion of all works of the Hall,” he said.

Sound and lighting

During the meeting, it was revealed that the Town Hall was yet to get a permanent sound and lighting facility. Deputy Commissioner, C Shikha said that temporary arrangements will be made during Dasara, and a tender had already been invited for providing sound and lighting systems for various venues.

Taking objection to the same, Umashree said that a cultural center, such as the Town Hall should have a permanent sound and lighting facility, and MCC should make arrangements for the same. Betsurmath said that even though attempts were made to provide sound and lighting facility at the Hall during Dasara, the contractor had sought 45 days for installing a permanent system.

Teams
Cultural programmes of Dasara will be held in seven venues, between September 25 and October 3. While programmes will be held only on September 25, at a stage atop Chamundi Hill, programmes will be held for all nine days at Amba Vilas Palace, Jaganmohan Palace, Kalamandir, Town Hall, Ganabharathi and Dufferin Clock Tower (Chikka Gadiyara).

At the six venues apart from Chamundi Hill, a total of 146 programmes will be held, with nine programmes at Dufferin Clock Tower, 29 programmes at Amba Vilas Palace premises and 27 programmes each at the remaining four venues.

Till date, the Cultural sub-committee has received a total of 450 applications from various artistes and troupes and the number of applications is expected to reach 800, said MUDA Commissioner, S Palaiah. Last date for applying to perform during Dasara is September 10.

Tableaux
Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture department Nirmala Matapathi said that all assistant directors of the department had been asked to send two teams, of which one will be selected as a tableaux for Dasara procession. Umashree said that tableaux of each district should display local flavour of the districts.

Apart from teams from districts of the State, artistes from Haryana, Chandigarh and Madhya Pradesh had confirmed their participation in the procession. The Dasara Executive Committee is expecting to rope in teams of other States too, ahead of Dasara, Palaiah said.

Umashree instructed to provide opportunities for as many teams as possible in various venues during Dasara.  DH News