Dr B Thomas (Special Correspondent)
T
he State government has released Rs 50 crore grant to Kittur Development Authority and the statues of Kittur Rani Chennamma and Sangolli Rayanna will be installed at Suvarnasoudha in Belagavi this year, announced Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Speaking after launching ‘Kittur Chennammaji Vijaya Yatra’ in connection with the coming Kittur Utsav organised by District Administration of Belagavi, Departments of Tourism,Kannada & Culture at Ravindra Kalakshethra here on Sunday, he said it has been 24-25 years the Kittur Utsav has been started and in between this festival was limping now and then.
But after the BJP Government came to power an order was issued to celebrate this festival across the State.While he was Belagavi District-In-Charge Minister he had released more funds to celebrate Kittur Utsav for three days.
Then, the Kittur Jyothi with the message of Chennamma was coming from Kittur to Bengaluru but now it has started from the state capital,Bengaluru and goes to Kittur Province’s capital, Kittur.
He said the gazetteer published by Karnataka University, Dharwad has referred to Kittur Rani Chennamma as a brave queen who started the first freedom struggle.
The same will be sent to the National Archives to get it recorded in history.Decision has been taken to strengthen the existing but dilapidated Chennamma’s palace in Kittur and also build a new palace adjacent to it.
Several steps have been taken to develop Kittur as a tourist spot.Similarly, Bailhongal, Sangolli and other historical places will be developed.
The government has started a sainik school in the name of ‘Sangolli Rayanna’ and it will be opened next month.Besides,Nandghad,a place where Rayanna was hanged, is being developed. The Vijaya Jyothi which started from Bengaluru will reach Kittur on October 23.
Belgavi district-In-Charge Minister Govind Karjol, Minister MTB Nagaraj, litterateur, Leeladevi R.Prasad and others were present.
