MLA Not Happy over Project has Delayed Musical Fountain Launch
Mangaluru: Many promises in the past by the ministers that the “Musical Fountain” would be open in the nearest future, are all gone in vain- because it’s been over eight months now since the musical fountain built is almost ready, has not been inaugurated and put to use for the general public. The main reason for the stay in opening the Musical Fountain is because MLA J R Lobo is not happy with the final touches of the project. Constructed at a whopping budget of Rs 5 crore, it is sad to note that, for a simple reason that the project is withheld for launching until further notice.
It was in 2009 that the idea of this project was proposed for a musical fountain to be built in the Deer Park, opposite to Kadri Park, and now even though 99% of the work is completed, due to the conflict of interest between the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (Muda) and the private firm implementing the project has stopped the unveiling of this project. MLA J R Lobo, who was the main person behind the project speaking to media has said that he was not happy with the project and this caused the delay in opening it to public. “The musical fountain did not turn out the way I conceived it. Since I was not too happy with the project, I have directed the authorities concerned to do the required changes. Those changes will be executed and the facility will be opened for public shortly,” had said Lobo.
But sources reveal that M J Sridhar, project director of the private firm blaming the Muda for not showing interest to throw it open for publi. Speaking to the media had said ,”A detailed project report for the musical fountain was prepared in 2013. Muda invited tender only last year. We have completed the work of musical fountain within a year. We have also given a demo. The delay in unveiling this project has resulted in losses to the firm. Sridhar said, adding that he was at a loss to comprehend why the unveiling of the facility is being delayed. The musical fountain comprises pictures on water curtain and a narrative to support the picture. We had curated the content on what was expected from us as per the written demand. However, the MLA wanted more. It is hard to please everybody,”.
Sridhar had further said, “Renowned scholar B A Vivek Rai gave us the script. We worked on it for the content. However, the MLA was not pleased with the number of pictures and content we had used in the fountain. He wanted more content such as cock fights and church etc. Most of the people who witnessed the demonstration were happy with the content back then, except for Lobo. Anyway, we have incorporated what he wanted. Hope he likes it,”.
The Musical Fountain works on a direct driven independent controlled system, where the music, ranging from patriotic songs to Bollywood numbers, is digitized and saved in a hard disc in wave format. Until the conflict between the two parties involved in this issue, citizens of Mangaluru have to cross their fingers and wait patiently till the inauguration day is announced.