Basavakalyan’s New Anubhava Mantapa project gets ₹200 crore allocation Updated: Updated: Share Article An artist’s impression of the New Anubhava Mantapa.
The much-awaited project of constructing a magnificent New Anubhava Mantapa at Basavakalyan in Bidar district where the historical Anubhava Mantapa was built and operated by the Sharanas (reformer-poets) in the 12th Century finally got a partial budgetary allocation. During his Budget speech on Monday, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa announced the allocation of ₹200 crore for the project for which the foundation stone had already been laid by the Chief Minister in January first week. The way that Mr. Yediyurappa laid the foundation for the project in a hurry without budgetary allocation and detailed project report had attracted widespread criticism. Many viewed the project, along with the formation controversial Maratha Development Corporation, as a politically motivated move ahead of the imminent byelection for the Basavakalyan Assembly constituency which was necessitated by the demise of its representative B. Narayan Rao of Congress. Impressing Lingayats and Marathas, which were the decisive forces in the segment, with New Anubhava Mantapa and Maratha Development Corporation respectively appeared to have been the ruling party’s strategy for attracting votes in the bypoll.