Mysuru: We have appointed 28 kavadis this year and those who have served as kavadis from past few years will be promoted as mahouts in a few days, said forest minister Ramanath Rai.

Speaking after distributing kits and uniforms to mahouts and kavadis at Mysuru palace here on Thursday he said, “Mahouts and Kavadis have played a significant role from past several years in successfully conducting the Jumboo Savari. It is our responsibility to honour them in this regard and we are distributing 30 kits and uniforms to the mahouts.”

Earlier, speaking to media persons on the Mysuru Zoo extension work, he said, “We haven’t found suitable land to extend the existing Mysuru Zoo, but we will take appropriate decision at the earliest”.