Minister Mahadevappa directs officials to ensure smooth Chamundeshwari Ashada Friday celebrations

Mysuru, NT Bureau: Social Wel fare and District Incharge Minister HC Mahadevappa on Sunday said that the district administration has made all preparations for the annual Chamundeshwari Ashada Friday celebrations atop Chamundi Hills including free bus ride and ‘darshan’ for devotees.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said that directions have been given to officials concerned to ensure adequate buses.

As many as 40 buses will be operated to pick up and drop the devotees to Chamundi Hills from Lalith Mahal Grounds in the city. Except Rs 50 and Rs 300 special darshan entry tickets, devotees can have free darshan. No VIP or VVIP passes will be issued this year either.

Instructions have been given to the city police commissioner to ensure adequate parking space for all vehicles, besides sorting out all problems related to the issue, he said. The minister clarified that his government has not misused SCP/ TSP grants meant for the empowerment of SC/ STs.

“The BJP and other opposition leaders are misleading the people over the issue,” he said. The government has not diverted these funds to poll guarantees schemes. It, in fact, has brought in legislation to stop misusing such grants for purposes other than SC/ STs, he said.

He accused the previous BJP government in the state of misusing the scheme under Section D, but his government has put an end to the misuse of these funds under deemed expenditure by removing Section D. Mahadevappa also said that his government has planned to build hi-tech libraries in SC/ST student hostels.

Earlier, the minister who held a meeting with district administration officials asked them to initiate all measures to prevent vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya. Deputy Commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy, ZP CEO K M Gayathri, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, SP Vishnuvardhan, MCC Commissioner Ashad Ur Rehaman Sharief and others were present at the conference.