By N.K.A. Ballal, Retd. Sr. Vice-President, ITDC
The latest fiasco of our Tourism Department: The much-hyped Gaganachu-kki Jalapa-thotsava, a waterfall festival plan-ned for viewing the falls sans water. These waterfalls are a beauty to watch during the monsoon but in other periods, it is just another hillock. The farmers were right. Why waste precious water in a dry month to bring the falls alive? It was a foolhardy idea to plan a festival in the month of January, waste precious water, time and energy of the local tourists who came to view the so-called falls. They were absolutely disappointed as they could see more rocks than water. Of course, the helicopter ride was considered a success. The Department had showcased some folk dances on the dais but nobody would come all the way to watch folk dances near the falls.
