Yaduveer backs campaign against kambala during Mysuru Dasara

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru-Kodagu MP, has extended his support to the campaign opposing the proposed kambala (buffalo race) event during the Mysuru Dasara festivities.

A delegation of the Joint Action Committee, comprising representatives of various organisations, met Mr. Wadiyar at his office on Saturday (August 29) and submitted a memorandum urging the government to drop the proposal.

Receiving the memorandum, Mr. Wadiyar said he had already conveyed his opposition to the government’s proposal to organise kambala as part of Dasara.

Parashurame Gowda, general secretary of Parisarakkagi Naavu, said the opposition to kambala was based on three major concerns.

First, organising kambala during Dasara would dilute the grandeur, prestige and uniqueness of the world-famous festival, he said. The event could also aggravate traffic congestion and increase air and noise pollution as well as waste generation, he added.

Second, the proposed kambala site reportedly has hundreds of trees and a lake, besides an ecosystem supporting small animals, birds, insects and other organisms. Mr. Gowda alleged that trees were being felled and the lake and its ecosystem were being “destroyed” to facilitate the event, despite the site having been earmarked for a park.

Third, he cited the prevailing drought conditions in the State and questioned the rationale behind holding kambala at a time of severe water stress.

He urged the government to focus on helping distressed farmers and make economic and judicious use of water its priorities. Spending money on kambala amid the water crisis would be insensitive, he said, urging the government to organise a frugal Dasara this year.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wadiyar promised the delegation that a meeting involving officials concerned and environmental activists would be convened to discuss the under-construction flyover near Manipal Hospital Junction and the proposed underpass near Kukkarahalli lake.

The delegation included U.N. Ravikumar, Kalachanne Gowda, N.S. Rangaraju, Ravi Bale, Hoskote Basavaraju, M.G. Sadanandaiah, M.R. Janardhan, Banu Prashanth, Vishwanath, Mansoor Ahmed, P. Marankaiah, Suresh, Shivashankar and Aishwarya, among others.