<p class="title">Even though Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has given his nod to release a grant of Rs 1 crore towards Madikeri Dasara, the rift between committees has brought the debate on the utilization of funds to the fore.</p>.<p class="bodytext">MLA Appachu Ranjan M P had requested the chief minister to announce funds for Madikeri Dasara.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chief minister subsequently recommended the finance department to release the grants.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, there has been no clarity of how much funds are reserved for Gonikoppa Dasara.</p>.<p><strong>Rs 25 lakh for Dasara</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">An MLA had suggested utilizing Rs 25 lakh out of the Rs 1 crore fund and utilizing the rest for the road and other development works in Madikeri.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He had pointed out that last year, Madikeri Dasara was organised using only Rs 10 lakh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, the sub-committees have failed to arrive at a common conclusion and the members have rejected the MLA’s suggestion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The differences in the opinion among the members have given room for a tug-of-war between the MLA and the committees, regarding the utilization of Dasara grants.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the other hand, the district administration has requested that a simple and traditional Dasara be observed, as the danger of the Covid-19 pandemic is still existing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The government regulations on Covid-19 should be strictly adhered to,” the district administration said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Dasara Committee stated that the schedule and the nature of Dasara will be finalised in the coming two days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Madikeri Dasara Committee working president K S Ramesh said that a meeting to be chaired by the MLA is scheduled on Friday and the confusion on the allocation of funds will be clear during the meeting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The festival is likely to be celebrated in a simple manner this year too, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Somesh, a resident of Madikeri, said that last year, a very limited number of people were permitted to take part in Dasha Mantapa and the idols of the deities were carried in tractors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Madikeri Dasara feels special with spectacular lighting arrangements and people. But, the pandemic has snatched all joy from it, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Merchants said that the response of people during Madikeri Dasara last year was dull.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After witnessing the Mysuru Dasara procession, the tourists would come to Madikeri. This provided livelihood to a lot of people depending on tourism activities. This year too, there may be a low turnout of tourists in Madikeri, they added.</p>
<p class="title">Even though Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has given his nod to release a grant of Rs 1 crore towards Madikeri Dasara, the rift between committees has brought the debate on the utilization of funds to the fore.</p>.<p class="bodytext">MLA Appachu Ranjan M P had requested the chief minister to announce funds for Madikeri Dasara.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The chief minister subsequently recommended the finance department to release the grants.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, there has been no clarity of how much funds are reserved for Gonikoppa Dasara.</p>.<p><strong>Rs 25 lakh for Dasara</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">An MLA had suggested utilizing Rs 25 lakh out of the Rs 1 crore fund and utilizing the rest for the road and other development works in Madikeri.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He had pointed out that last year, Madikeri Dasara was organised using only Rs 10 lakh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, the sub-committees have failed to arrive at a common conclusion and the members have rejected the MLA’s suggestion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The differences in the opinion among the members have given room for a tug-of-war between the MLA and the committees, regarding the utilization of Dasara grants.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the other hand, the district administration has requested that a simple and traditional Dasara be observed, as the danger of the Covid-19 pandemic is still existing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The government regulations on Covid-19 should be strictly adhered to,” the district administration said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Dasara Committee stated that the schedule and the nature of Dasara will be finalised in the coming two days.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Madikeri Dasara Committee working president K S Ramesh said that a meeting to be chaired by the MLA is scheduled on Friday and the confusion on the allocation of funds will be clear during the meeting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The festival is likely to be celebrated in a simple manner this year too, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Somesh, a resident of Madikeri, said that last year, a very limited number of people were permitted to take part in Dasha Mantapa and the idols of the deities were carried in tractors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Madikeri Dasara feels special with spectacular lighting arrangements and people. But, the pandemic has snatched all joy from it, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Merchants said that the response of people during Madikeri Dasara last year was dull.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After witnessing the Mysuru Dasara procession, the tourists would come to Madikeri. This provided livelihood to a lot of people depending on tourism activities. This year too, there may be a low turnout of tourists in Madikeri, they added.</p>