Whose 125 feet statue is coming up in mandya?
State government is mulling rs. 1,200cr project
Bengaluru, Nov 15: The Karnataka government is mulling a proposal to upgrade the Brindavan gardens adjoining the Krishnarajasagara dam, on the lines of Disney land that includes installation of a mammoth watchtower statue of "Mother Cauvery."
Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar along with Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh has held a meeting with officials from the water resources and the tourism departments on Wednesday regarding this, officials said.
"Statue is just a part of it... government in the budget for tourism purpose has provisioned for up-gradation of Brindavan Gardens that has musical fountain.
We want to upgrade it on the lines of Disneyland," Shivakumar told reporters here on Thursday.
He said concepts had come from architects depicting Karnataka's rich cultural heritage and architecture.
"The concept includes a tall towering statue like of Mother Cauvery that includes a lift from where visitors can view the dam and surrounding areas from the gallery.
We have seen the concept and have given certain suggestions," he saidadding that a global tender would be called for investing into the project.
The Minister also clarified that, it is just a concept and the proposal in this regard is yet to come before the cabinet.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in his first ever budget presented on July 5, had proposed to bring back the grandeur of Brindavan Gardens and Krishnarajasagar dam by developing it on the model of America's Disneyland with public private participation.
Global industrialists are eager to invest in the project, Kumaraswamy, who also holds Finance portfolio, had said in his budget speech, while providing Rs 5 crore to prepare the detailed project report.
Noting that about 300 acre land was available for the purpose, the Minister not wanting to divulge much said, "we are working out for more land if required."
"There is sufficient land. We want to do this without affecting the public," he said.
Asked about the project cost, Shivakumar said, private partners would invest and the government would only invest in the initial stage.
"I don't want to detail much on how the project will be now itself," he said not wishing to share details on the height of the proposed statue.
To a query on Congress' opposition to 'Statue of Unity' in Gujarat and proposed Ram statue in UP, Shivakumar said, the proposal was not just for statue, it is a theme park with an aim to promote tourism.
"Some architects have given a concept proposal for a watch tower that will have a shape (of mother Cauvery)," he said adding that there is also design for a street depicting the heritage and history of Karnataka which will have models of Hampi and Gol Gumbaz among others.
The Brindavan Gardens, primarily a terrace garden is laid out in about 60 acres immediately behind the Krishnaraja Sagar dam across the river Cauvery.
The Department of Horticulture in 1927 started the work of laying out this garden, then called the Krishnarajendra Terrace Garden, under the aegis of Sir Mirza Ismail, the then Dewan of the princely State of Mysore.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
