Sculptor says: Payments have been irregular, but BBMP says: Rubbish! Just wait till elections are over
Sculptor says: Payments have been irregular, but BBMP says: Rubbish! Just wait till elections are over Frozen frame: Nagraj Achar with the BBMP-commissioned 13-ft Rajkumar statue that awaits installation
Dr Rajkumar's memorial statue remains incomplete because the BBMP hasn't been paying the sculptor regularly.
The statue was to have been unveiled in 2007.
Nagraj Achar said he had spent on 500 kg of brass and 500 kg of iron that had not been estimated earlier but Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials were not talking about repaying him.
Forgotten words
In 2006, the BJP-JD(S) coalition had announced the installation of the 13-foot Rajkumar statue, said to be the tallest in the state, at Town Hall. It was to have cost over Rs 13 lakh.
BBMP issued the work order almost a year after the declaration. Later, it agreed to pay the artist Rs 13 lakh over five installments. But BBMP has only paid three installments till date, Achar said.
"The statue was estimated to be made of 1.5 tonne but it has gone up by a tonne and the BBMP is yet to respond. I will continue the work once officials promise to repay me," he said.
'We will compensate'
BBMP officials, however, deny Achar's allegations and say the statue will be unveiled once elections are over.
"We have paid installments regularly as per the agreement," said Dr S Khandre, public relations officer, BBMP.
"We are not responsible for the delay. But we will pay the extra amount the artist has spent on the statue."
Dr Rajkumar's family members were unavailable for comment.
'Enough is enough'
Rajkumar fans say the government is neglecting the iconic star whose third death anniversary was observed recently and whose birth anniversary will be observed on April 23.
"It's a dishonour to Dr Rajkumar," said Sa Ra Govind, president, Dr Rajkumar Fans Association.
Neighbouring states seem to have taken better care of their iconic heroes. For instance, MGR has been honoured with one of the finest structures on Marina beach in Chennai. NTR is similarly honoured with a 55-acre garden adjacent to Hussein Sagar Lake in Hyderabad.u00a0u00a0 "It's unfortunate we have such bureaucrats and politicians," said Sa Ra Govind. "We will take up the issue with the government and will not tolerate further delays."
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