Farmers in Mandya have opposed the Karnataka government’s ambitious plans to hold ‘Cauvery arati’ and build an amusement park in the Brindavan Gardens - the Krisha Raja Sagara (KRS) dam in Sriragapatna.
The brainchild of Deputy CM DK Shivakumar who is also the state water resources minister, the two projects – the Rs 100-crore ‘Cauvery arati’ modeled on the ‘Ganga Aarti’ in Varanasi, and a Rs 2,663-crore Disneyland-styled amusement park have come under severe criticism from the farmers and environmentalists.
Earlier this week, the civil work of the proposed gallery with a seating capacity of 10,000 to watch the ‘arati’, cultural performances, laser shows, and musical fountains were stalled by the local farmers who alleged that the project led to the felling of hundreds of trees, cause damage to the dam integrity, pollute the river and also impact agricultural activities in the region.
Mysuru-Kodagu MP and scion of the Mysore royal family Yaduveer Wadiyar, joined the farmers in opposing the project citing environmental concerns and threat to heritage preservation.
The KRS dam is a heritage structure and holds immense historical and ecological value. "We welcome development, but not at the cost of damaging a century-old heritage structure. Development should happen in appropriate locations and after consulting the local communities, especially farmers," said Wadiyar, adding that any commercial or entertainment-oriented projects would harm the natural surroundings of the KRS dam.
Expressing apprehensions over the high cost of the proposed event, Wadiyar said that the proposed Rs 100 crore budget for a small ritual was not justified. “I support tradition and culture, but rituals should not interfere with heritage or disturb ecological balance,” he added.
The proposed amusement park spread across 198 acres would include a 350-foot tall statue of Goddess Cauvery, roller coaster rides, a water park, hot air balloons, skywalks, a wax museum and a penguin habitat, along with a food court and multilevel parking.
Local farmers suggested that the government should focus on desilting the lakes and strengthening the dams and prioritise water security instead of focusing on commercial ventures that are detrimental to nature.
Shivakumar, who has repeatedly defended the projects said the amusement park could generate 8,000–10,000 jobs and boost tourism revenue. He also claimed that no private lands would be acquired. “Brindavan Gardens should not just be a historic memory, but a living, vibrant destination,” said Shivakumar.
