Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to offer bagina at KRS tomorrow

Kumar, the Deputy Commissioner of Mandya, conducted an inspection of the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir on Sunday ahead of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s programme to offer bagina at the reservoir, which has reached its full reservoir level, scheduled to take place on Monday.

Mr. Kumar was accompanied by the Superintendent of Mandya district police Mallikarjun Baladandi and senior officials of the district administration to oversee preparations before the Chief Minister’s visit.

Mr. Siddaramaiah is scheduled to fly to Mysuru from Bengaluru on Monday before reaching the Government guest house in the city. He will later proceed to KRS reservoir in a bus. After offering bagina to the reservoir, the Chief Minister is expected to participate in a public function.

Kabini skipped

Meanwhile, the decision of Mr. Siddaramaiah to offer bagina at the KRS and skipping the customary ritual at the Kabini dam, has raised eyebrows and triggered speculation amongst the public.

Traditionally, the bagina, which is a symbolic offering to the river Goddess, is presented at both dams on the same day once they reach full reservoir level. This is an annual ritual, and apart from being a thanksgiving to nature’s bounty, it is also seen as a symbolic connect with the farming community. But this deviation from the tradition has led to murmurs, and the BJP has attributed political motives behind it.

Party functionaries told media persons in Mysuru on Sunday that the water level of Kabini reservoir has been deliberately kept a few feet below the full level of 2,284 ft, while the KRS reservoir has been allowed to reach its maximum level of 124.80 ft.

“The Kabini reservoir, being smaller in capacity, typically reaches its full reservoir level nearly a month before the KRS. However, the outflow from the Kabini has been deliberately kept high to prevent it from attaining that mark,” the BJP alleged.

The party further claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was deliberately skipping the bagina ritual at Kabini to sidestep uncomfortable questions about illegal resorts allegedly operated by a close aide of one of his Ministers, in the vicinity of the dam.