Fresh concern after Yathindra says stadium will come up at KSIC premises in T. Narasipura

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra’s statement that a stadium will be built in the premises of the KSIC filature factory in T. Narasipura has become a cause for fresh concern among people campaigning against the project.

Though Minister in-charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa had sought to dismiss speculations about any move by the government to close the KSIC filature factory in T. Narasipura and had assured to explore alternatives if the stadium project affects the factory, its operations or the workers, environmental organisation Parisarakkagi Naavu found Mr. Yathindra’s statement on Tuesday to be “contradictory”.

Mr. Yathindra, after assuring that the KSIC’s filature factory will not be closed, clarified that the stadium project will be taken up at the same location in the factory premises.

Speaking to reporters in T. Narasipura on Tuesday, Mr. Yathindra said the stadium would benefit the people of T. Narasipura and the local youth. Acknowledging the “technical” concerns raised by people against the stadium project, the MLC said the officials, who had explored various sites, had identified the KSIC filature factory land as the most suitable site. “If they still have doubts and concerns, we will convince them,” Mr. Yathindra had said before reiterating that the stadium will come up on the same plot of land.

In a statement here on Wednesday, Parisarakkagi Naavu’s Parashurame Gowda said it was “unfortunate” that such developments were taking place in Varuna assembly constituency represented by Mr. Siddaramaiah.

Pointing out that the KSIC silk filature factory falls in the Varuna assembly segment, Mr. Parashurame Gowda urged Mr. Siddaramaiah to intervene in the matter and officially announce that the plan to build a stadium in T. Narasipura will be dropped and that it will instead be constructed at another suitable location.

Such an announcement by the Chief Minister will help alleviate the concerns of workers and environmental organisations, he said.

He said the workers of the factory have been on strike for the last several days, opposing the government’s decision to transfer five acres of land in the factory premises to the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports for the construction of a stadium.

The strike has received support from various environmental organisations, farmers’ groups, pro-Kannada organisations and political parties.

Any move to construct a stadium on the factory premises is feared to disrupt the supply of raw silk needed for producing the highly sought-after Mysuru silk sarees in KSIC’s weaving factories in Mysuru and Channapatna, besides destroying about 500 trees in the area.