BENGALURU — The Karnataka government is mulling a proposal to upgrade the Brindavan gardens adjoining the Krishnarajasagara dam, on the lines of Disneyland that includes installation of a mammoth watch tower statue of "Mother Cauvery."
Water Resources Minister DK 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 upgradation of Brindavan Gardens that has a musical fountain.
We want to upgrade it on the lines of Disneyland," Shivakumar told reporters 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 said while adding that a global tender would be called for investing in 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 HD Kumaraswamy in his first-ever budget presented on 5 July, had proposed to bring back the grandeur of Brindavan Gardens and Krishnarajasagara 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, hadsaid 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 Uttar Pradesh, 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.