GULBARGA: The Karnataka government has sent a circular to all the Deputy Commissioners of different districts except the DCs of D-K, U-K, Kodagu and Bangalore, instructing them not to celebrate the Jilla Utsavs in the year 2011-12.
A circular issued by the under secretary to the Kannada and Culture and Information Department H V Ramachandra Rao on January 22 has asked DCs of all the drought prone districts to drop the preparations of the Jilla Utsav including the Hampi Utsav, Kadambotsava, Hoysalotsava, Chalukya Utsav, Lakkundi Utsav, Kittur Utsav, Dharwad Utsav, Basava Utsav, Kanakagiri Utsav and Anegundi Utsavs.
It has been stated in the circular that due to shortage of rains in the state, the state government has declared 99 taluks of the state as drought affected.
The government feels that it would not be appropriate to hold Jilla Utsavs with pomp and gaiety in the drought affected districts, the circular said.
Bidar DC Sameer Shukla told Express that he has received the circular from the department and would drop all preparations for the Basava Utsav in Bidar which was planned to be held in the month of March.
The Kannada and Culture Department allocated `30 lakh this year for the Basava Utsav, Shukla said.
It is said that the Bellary and Koppal district administrations might also drop Hampi Utsav, Anegundi Utsav and Kanakagiri Utsav following the circular of Kannada and Culture Department.
However, reports say the Bellary district administration has planned to celebrate the Hampi Utsav in a simple manner for one day.