Kabini to be developed on lines of KRS Brindavan Garden: B. S. Yediyurappa

Mysuru: Amidst the tunes of percussion instruments and a festive ambience, Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa offered baagina to river Kapila at Kabini reservoir at Beechanahalli in HD Kote taluk in Mysuru district as a gesture of thanksgiving at 10.50 am during the auspicious Vrishchika lagna on Saturday morning.

Chief Minister Mr Yediyurappa told reporters “with good rains in Cauvery catchment area, dams in Cauvery basin have been filled and hence we have been able to share the water with Tamil Nadu without any problem and we are relieved of that issue. And it has also brought peace to farmers and others who depend on the river water for drinking including Mysuru and Bengaluru. And hence as a gesture of thanks we are offering Baagina to the river,” he said.

He also informed that the garden at the Kabini reservoir will be developed on the lines of Brindavan Garden at KRS. The bridge near the dam too will be restored soon, he said.

Earlier, Mr Yediyurappa had said he would discuss the problem of drought and floods faced by the State when Prime Minister Modi visited Bengaluru on September 7 and urge the Centre to release funds soon.

When asked about the chief minister’s meeting with prime minister Modi on the former’s arrival at the Beechanahalli helipad, Mr Yediyurappa said, “Prime Minister Modi visited ISRO and spoke there and left. We have already conveyed to him about the situation in the State. Mr Amit Shah and Ms Nirmala Sitharaman too have visited the State and they are aware of the situation in the State. The Central team has already visited the State. We are expecting central funds soon. The State has already been releasing its share of funds and addressing drought and floods situation besides giving it more priority, than developmental works for a while. We are doing our best,” he said.

On the Mekedaatu project, he said, “We will examine it and decide on it soon,” he said.

Priest Mr Bhaskar who led a team of priests including Mr Narendra Babu and Mr Rama Rao, performed the Ganga pooja, Ganapathi pooja and Baagina pooja. He said, “The tradition of offering Baagina to river Kapila began when Mr Gundu Rao was Chief Minister in 1982,” he said.

“Like how we offer Baagina to our daughter during the Gowri festival and since water is considered as one among the five mothers, baagina is offered when the reservoir gets filled up during the months of Aashada and Shravana,” the priests said.

Chamarajanagar MP Mr V Srinivasprasad, Mysuru district minister Mr V Somanna, HD Kote MLA Mr Anil Chikmaadu and others were also present.

Mysuru district minister Mr V Somanna offered baaginas at Taaraka and Nugu reservoirs too on Saturday.