Dasara expo: 7 dept stalls remain non-starter

Seven government department stalls are yet to begin functioning under the Dasara Exhibition, organised by the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA), on Dasara Exhibition Grounds in the city. The stalls are set up to disseminate information to tourists.

Although the Chief Secretary of the Karnataka government had issued a circular to all the departments on July 24 to set up stalls on the Dasara Exhibition Grounds before the inauguration by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on October 10, only 22 departments have begun setting up of stalls. The work on stalls of 18 departments are under progress, while seven departments have not started functioning.

The seven departments, which have not put up their stalls are: Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan, Education department, Karnataka State Agriculture Marketing Board, Dr B R Ambedkar Development Corporation, Karnataka State Co-operative Fisheries Federation, Karnataka State Valmiki Development Corporation, and Command Area Development Authority (CADA).

KEA Chief Executive Officer N M Shashikumar said, "The circular was issued to all departments long back, but the heads of some departments have not taken up any step to set up stalls. I have written a letter to the Principal Secretary for Tourism department seeking necessary action against the departments which have not put up stalls.”

The departments which have set up stalls are: Postal department, Information and Public Relations department, Kannada and Culture department, Sericulture department, Agriculture department, Horticulture department, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences department, D Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation, Karnataka Soaps and Detergents, Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation (Lidkar), Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation, Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd, Mysuru District Legal Services Authority, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama (Mysuru), Petroleum Conservation Ltd, Tourism Department and Zilla Panchayat of Hassan.

The work under progress includes that of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Forest department, Health department, Cauvery Niravari Nigam, Karnataka State Temperance Board, Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation, Karnataka State Women and Child Development Corporation, Karnataka State Commission for Women, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department, Higher Education department, Fisheries department, Kerala State Coir Corporation, Department of Industries and Commerce, and Zilla Panchayats of Mandya, Udupi, Ramanagar, Koppal and Chikkaballapur.

The exhibition, which was inaugurated during Dasara, will continue till January 7 in 2019.