Dharwad district Kannada Sahitya Parishat waits for land lease renewal

Time of India

4 days ago

Dharwad: While there is loud talk of promoting and protecting the interest of Kannada language, the organizations working for Kannada are not getting due support from the government.
Dharwad District Kannada Sahitya Parishat (DDKSP)which has its office and Sahitya Bhavan located near RN Shetty Stadium in Dharwad is waiting for the lease of the land to be renewed. It has been 31 years since the lease has lapsed and till date, the efforts to get it lease renewed have continued.
It was in 1989 that the state govt granted 1.1 acre of land on lease for five years near the district stadium to the DDKSP to carry out its activities.
When Shivanand Gali was the president of the DDKSP, it was planned to construct Sahitya Bhavan and a committee under the chairmanship of HK Patil was constituted. A new building came up and was inaugurated on Oct 19, 1995 by which time, the lease period was over. The office bearers of DDKSP made no effort then to get the lease period renewed and Sahitya Bhavan had continued to function.
Over the period, the premises saw buildings housing a meeting hall, president's office and a library.
In 2021, Dharwad DC sent notices to all the properties which had been given by the govt on lease and the lease period of which had expired. The DC had asked the occupants to vacate the premises.
Following this DDKSP office bearers met the DC and requested to renew the lease. Sources said the application still remains in govt files and has failed to elicit any response from the revenue department.
DDKSP president Lingaraj Angadi said he has been running from pillar to post to get the lease renewed but to no avail.
"We have paid the annual land rent till 2022-23 and are waiting for the govt to respond. Recommendations for renewal of lease by ministers and legislators and Kannada luminaries have not worked," he lamented.
DDKSP plans to construct an open-air theatre and expand the facilities but the delay in getting the lease renewed has put a brake to plans.
In 2019, Dharwad hosted 84th All India Kannada Literary Meet and there was a saving of Rs 26 lakh after the meet.
DDKSP wants to utilise the amount for expansion of facilities at Sahitya Bhavan as the KSP Bylaw provides for the host district to utilize the savings for development of infrastructure. Angadi said the amount which is in the joint account of DC and DDKSP cannot be withdrawn as the audit of the income and expenditure of Sahitya Sammelana is not yet complete.
"Dharwad is considered the cultural capital and a hub of Kannada literature, education, art and music and deserves all support from the government. The elected representatives from the region should prevail upon the govt to clear the hurdles and get the necessary clearance for lease renewal," said writer Prof Veeranna Rajur.