Sir,
It’s not even a year since District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa inaugurated one of the iconic elephant sculpture fountains at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Circle, popularly known as ‘Highway Circle,’ and already it has been subjected to repeated vandalism by political parties and private associations. Just two months ago in April a political party vandalised the beautiful Circle by tying its party flags on the delicate trunk of the elephant sculpture. Yesterday a private association also disfigured the statue by pasting posters on the pedestal. It is unfortunate that our leaders and people do not know how to respect and appreciate public art installations, but what is the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) doing? Though the Circle is being maintained by Brigade Group, which gifted this sculpture with the fountain costing Rs. 40 lakh to our city, it is the responsibility of MCC to see that such vandalism does not recur which mars the beauty of this Heritage City. I hope the MCC will penalise people who vandalise public property; only then will they stop destroying them. Now, will the MCC at least fine the association whose poster is still stuck on the sculpture?
