Hassan: Hassan district minister KM Shivalingegowda on Sunday said expenditure on this year’s Hasanamba Jatre Mahotsava would be compiled and published to ensure transparency.Speaking after performing bhoomi puja for various works and meeting officials at Hasanamba Temple premises, Shivalingegowda said the district administration had initially approved 48 works estimated at Rs 13.5 crore. Steps were being taken to reduce the cost following public criticism over the expenditure.He said the review was being conducted at the temple premises in the presence of stakeholders, rather than through closed-door meetings, to ensure openness and accountability. Final expenditure would be announced after the works were completed and accounts finalised, and printed accounts would be distributed to inform the public.Representatives of some organisations alleged during the meeting that contractors awarded work in previous years had again received contracts this year and that certain works had been awarded at excessive rates.Responding to the allegations, Shivalingegowda said only 10 days remained before the festival, making it impractical to invite fresh tenders. The administration would instead review the existing works and take decisions based on the bids received, giving preference to contractors quoting lower rates.He said the administration was committed to minimising expenditure while completing festival arrangements on time.MP Shreyas M Patel, deputy commissioner KS Latha Kumari, SP Shubhanwita, assistant commissioner and temple administrative officer Jagadeesh Gangannavar, and other officials attended the meeting.Worker suffers shock, hospitalisedA labourer working in the Hasanamba Temple premises suffered an electric shock and fell from the first floor on Sunday morning, the first day of preparations for the annual temple festival. Minister Shivalingegowda and MP Shreyas were reviewing the festival preparations when the incident happened. Police rushed the injured man to a hospital in the Hassan tahsildar’s vehicle. Shivalingegowda instructed officials to ensure that he received immediate treatment.
