Magaluru : Dakshina Kannada administration has saved Rs. 3.5 lakh after conducting a 10-day Karavali Utsav followed by an extended exhibition at Karavali Grounds in December-January.

At a meeting to review the expenditure here on Friday under the chairmanship of district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, it emerged that the total fund available for the event in which several cultural programmes were organised at Karavali Grounds and Kadri Park, was Rs. 1.07 crore.

The district got a grant of Rs. 50 lakh from the government, Rs. 35 lakh as rent from stalls on the Karavali grounds and Rs. 22.65 lakh as donation for the event.

An amount of Rs. 28 lakh was spent for the beach festival, Rs. 32 lakh for cultural programmes and Rs. 17.33 lakh for sporting events. For the grand procession on the inaugural day, Rs. 9.93 lakh was spent. In addition to spending Rs. 8.61 lakh for publicity, live telecast of the inaugural event cost Rs. 2.58 lakh, which was paid to a local channel.

As many 39 troupes that took part in the procession and were paid amounts ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 35,000, with the tiger dance troupe getting the highest payment of Rs. 55,000. The amount spent includes Rs. 16,000 spent on fire crackers.

In the beach festival, Rs. 13.65 lakh was given to Geetha electricals, Tech Pro Solutions and Techno Pro Solutions were given Rs. 1.97 lakh. Singer Lavita Lobo, whose troupe presented a concert, was given Rs. 75,000.

Among the special cultural events, the administration gave Rs. 1.75 lakh to the Shivaleela Cultural troupe, and Rs. 2.5 lakh to Nirupama Rajendra troupe and Rs. 2 lakh to Prabhath Kalavidarau, both of Bengaluru. Theatre actor Devadas Kapikad who presented a play got Rs. 30,000. City-based Hindustani sitar player Rafique Khan was paid Rs. 44,000.

Hindustani artistes Praveen Godkhindi (flute) and Jayateerth Mevundi (vocal) who presented a jugalbandi got Rs. 55,000 each, while Carnatic violinists R.Ganesha and R. Kumaresh were paid Rs. 75,000 each.