Context: While Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has laid the foundation stone for ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’ in Basavakalyan, questions have been raised about the priorities of the government.

Historical Background:

• The kalyani (also called Tripuranta lake) at Basavakalyan in Bidar district is a shadow of its former glory. Built by the Kalyani Chalukya kings, who gave the town its name, a large part of the kalyani is dry because the feeder channels have been blocked. They have not been cleaned for years, while developers have created residential layouts in the watershed.
• Despite its connection with Basaveshwara, the 12th century reformer and saint-poet, the town remains as backward as the Kalyana Karnataka region.
• Basavakalyan, which was the seat of the Kalyani Chalukyas, has several tourist attractions.
• The Raja Bag Sawar Dargah and the Mallikarjun Swami Dargah are centres of multi-faith worship.
• The Basavanna temple, the Anubhava Mantapa, and the giant cement statue of Basavanna on the main road attract the faithful in large numbers.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/basavakalyan-project-case-of-misplaced-priorities/article33787487.ece

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