The Sardar Patel statue in Gujarat and the proposed Shivaji statue in Maharashtra might have been vehemently opposed by the Congress party, but in Karnataka, the party has mooted a gigantic statue on the river Cauvery.
The 125-feet tall statue of Mother Cauvery has been proposed by the JD(S)-Congress coalition government at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore across an expanse of 400 acres surrounding the Krishna Raja Sagara dam near Mysuru. The project is estimated to be completed in two years.
The move of the coalition government, which is struggling to find funds for crucial welfare initiatives like farm loan waiver, has surprised many.
Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar said it is only a concept. “We are not investing any money for any statue or involving any government funds for this. The land is ours and it is public-private participation where we are asking investors to come and invest,” he said.
Elaborating on the project, Shivakumar said, “Mysuru has many tourist attractions. The KRS dam has Brindavan gardens and the musical fountain. This will be an add-on as it will be developed on the lines of Disneyland, but to showcase the Karnataka heritage. Experts have prepared a concept note. Apart from the tall statue of Cauvery thayi (Mother Cauvery), an escalator will take you to the viewing point. A theme-lane showcasing the famous tourist destinations like Hampi, Golgumbaz, Halebid, Somnathpura will be created.”
The government plans to call a global tender soon as it hopes to develop it under the public-private partnership model, where the government will allot land and the private partner develops the park and share the revenue.
The minister refused to comment when asked if the Congress' idea to build a statue was justifiable, considering the fact that the party vehemently opposed the Sardar Patel's statue erected by the Gujarat government.
Interestingly, the BJP has welcomed the move saying that the party would support any “constructive idea”.
"We welcome the Cauvery statue as it showcases the Karnataka heritage and boosts tourism and generates employment," said BJP MLA C.T. Ravi.
However, the government decision is likely to rake up more grave concerns. In March 2018, the Central Pollution Control Board filed a report before the Supreme Court stating that Karnataka was polluting the Cauvery river before it flows into Tamil Nadu. The report was in connection with a case filed by Tamil Nadu in 2015 alleging Karnataka was discharging untreated sewage and industrial effluent into the river, making it unsafe for human consumption.
In 2011, the Krishna Raja Sagara dam was one of the monuments put under surveillance after it was found to be a terror target. However, the government was evasive when confronted with the question of security.
“We are not allowing anyone near the dam. One can view it from the deck,” says Shivakumar.
