Karkala: The Karnataka government has taken steps towards the reconstruction of the Parashurama statue and development of a theme park at Ummikal Hill in Bailoor, following a high-level meeting chaired by District In-charge Minister Rizwan Arshad at Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru.
According to Karkala Congress leaders, the meeting, attended by elected representatives and government officials, discussed several measures required to take forward the proposed development works. The decisions include obtaining technical advice for reconstructing the statue, transferring the designated grazing land (gomala) for the theme park in its name and inviting fresh tenders to ensure transparency in the execution of the project.
The Karkala Congress has welcomed the government’s move, describing it as an important development in the controversy surrounding the Parashurama statue, which has remained a contentious issue in the region for the past three years.
High-level meeting held at Vikasa Soudha
Addressing a press conference, Karkala Block Congress Committee President Shubhada Rao, Hebri Block Congress President Gopinath Bhat and other party leaders said the government had taken the decisions in accordance with the guidelines issued by the High Court in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Karkala Congress leader Uday Shetty.
The special meeting was held at Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru under the chairmanship of District In-charge Minister Rizwan Arshad. The Udupi Deputy Commissioner was also present during the discussions.
Among the key decisions taken at the meeting was to seek the opinion of technical experts regarding the reconstruction of the Parashurama statue. The leaders said expert consultation would help determine the appropriate technical requirements for the reconstruction.
The meeting also discussed the transfer of the gomala land earmarked for the theme park into the park’s name through the necessary administrative procedures.
Another important decision was to invite fresh tenders for the project. According to the Congress leaders, the fresh tendering process is intended to ensure transparency and facilitate the implementation of the development works in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
Parashurama statue controversy dates back to 2023
The controversy surrounding the Parashurama statue at Ummikal Hill in Bailoor emerged after it was installed during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election period.
Congress leaders subsequently raised questions about the material used to construct the statue, alleging that it was not made of bronze as claimed. They criticised Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar over the issue and demanded accountability regarding the statue’s construction.
The controversy intensified after activists and campaigners questioned the statue’s composition and raised concerns about the project. Congress leaders alleged that those who questioned the statue had been insulted and ridiculed.
The dispute gradually expanded beyond the statue itself to include questions about the execution of the theme park project, the use of public resources and the transparency of the development process.
Congress leaders said the latest government decisions represented an important development in the campaign they had pursued over the past three years, particularly their demand for reconstruction of the statue and completion of the theme park.
Congress questions proposed vehicle rally
During the press conference, Congress leaders also raised objections to posters circulating on social media accounts of the MLA’s close associates and in online news outlets.
The posters reportedly called for the completion of the Parashurama theme park project and announced a vehicle rally from Bengaluru to Karkala. The Congress leaders pointed out that these announcements had appeared on the same day as the government meeting at Vikasa Soudha.
They questioned the timing of the proposed rally, arguing that the government had already initiated steps to take up the development works.
According to the Congress leaders, attempts had previously been made to organise a vehicle rally on two occasions, but both had to be cancelled due to a lack of public response.
They alleged that an attempt was now being made to project the upcoming government-funded development works as the outcome of their own agitation by organising another rally.
The leaders maintained that the government’s decisions followed sustained efforts and representations over the statue controversy and should be recognised in that context.
Congress welcomes government decision
The Karkala Congress welcomed the government’s initiative to reconstruct the statue and develop the theme park. Party leaders expressed gratitude to the elected representatives, officials and others who had cooperated in taking the matter forward.
They said the decisions taken at the Bengaluru meeting marked an important step towards addressing the concerns surrounding the project and ensuring that the development works were carried out through appropriate technical and administrative procedures.
The leaders also expressed hope that the government’s intervention would bring an end to the allegations, counter-allegations and political disagreements that have surrounded the Parashurama statue.
They appealed to MLA V Sunil Kumar and his supporters to cooperate with the government’s decisions and avoid creating obstacles to the proposed works.
Leaders attend press conference
Those present at the press conference included Karkala Block Congress President Shubhada Rao, Hebri Block Congress President Gopinath Bhat, Karkala Guarantee Implementation Committee President Ajith Hegde Maala, former Karkala Municipal Council Presidents Subith Kumar N R and Pratima Rane, former member Vivekananda Shenoy, and KMF Mangaluru Director Sudhakar Shetty.
The government’s decisions are expected to set the administrative process in motion for the reconstruction of the Parashurama statue and development of the theme park at Ummikal Hill. The next steps will include technical consultations, land-related procedures and fresh tendering.
The implementation of these measures will be crucial in determining how the long-running controversy is resolved and how the proposed tourism and infrastructure project progresses.