The need to save Chamundi hill

The government is planning to spend Rs 80 crore to build a commercial complex of 116 shops.

It was way back in 1929 that the Chamundi hill in Mysuru was gazetted as a reserve forest. At that time, the science behind environmental protection was not well understood. Neither was it a high priority. As a result, a small village around the Chamundeshwari temple on the hill was excluded from the reserve forest.

Such an oversight is fully utilised today by the Karnataka government to ‘develop’ the hill. The government plans to spend Rs 80 crore to construct a commercial complex for 116 shops, a queue line, toilets, a well-laid road and a multi-level parking building for 600 cars. The contract has already been awarded to a Bengaluru-based firm. The foundation stone for the project was laid by the chief minister in April, 2016 and work is expected to be completed by October 12, 2017.

Such an investment in a place surrounded by a reserve forest and several heritage sites can be justified only after carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), approval from the heritage committee concerned, holding public hearing etc.

As against this, without going through any of the formal approval processes to protect the fragile ecology of the hill, the government has started the work. This has given rise to protests by activists. Prodded by former district-in-charge minister Srinivas Prasad, the deputy commissioner has directed the PWD officials to conduct an Environmental Management Plan (EMP, rather than an EIA which is far more comprehensive).

The EMP is perfunctory and not a detailed enough to study covering all aspects of the project. It looks as though the government has no intention of taking a look at other alternatives which not only help the pilgrims but also promote environmental protection.
Mysuru’s forest officials have been denying approval to widen the road since it will harm the delicate ecology. There are more than 400 species of flowering and rare medicinal plants and 150 species of birds. A Central forest ministry delegation after visiting the hill had recommended that no development work should be carried out in the reserve forest. However, the argument of the state government is that the area where the work has started does not belong to the reserve forest.

Because of the unrestricted traffic movement of pilgrims and tourists, traffic on the hill has been increasing every year causing total chaos when they reach the top of the hill. Still, in the last seven years, there have been less than 10 traffic accidents per year and five fatalities. This refutes the justification given by the CM for widening the road.

The village panchayat has not been strict in implementing the rule of law. Only shops selling puja materials should have been given licenses. But today, there are more than 460 shops when only 91 shops have been given licenses. These shops and more than 50 eateries located all around the temple have added to the traffic congestion.

In recent years, the Chamun-deshwari temple has been drawing huge crowds of devotees and tourists. Devotees have to wait for hours in long lines especially during festival days.

Last year, the income of the temple was Rs 23 crore and the accumulated fixed deposits were worth Rs 70 crore. The government came with a “development” plan to make use of this money to ‘solve the myriad problems to promote tourism and help devotees.’
During the months of `Ashada’ when the numbers of devotees is very large, no private vehicles are allowed on the hill and they are ferried by buses. If such an arrangement is made a permanent feature, then there will be no need to have a parking building and widening of the road.

Imaginative techniques
Is there any need to have more than three or four shops to sell pooja materials on the hill? By having more trees and greenery around the temple and through imaginative queue control techniques, the devotee line can be shortened and more comfortable ambience can be created. A full blown EIA would have come up with such environmentally sound strategies.

When India’s forest coverage is less than 33% as required, Karnataka’s is less than 22% and Mysore’s is 16%, we should be doing everything to protect the reserve forest on Chamundi hill and not destroy it. But that’s not happening.

Every literate Mysurean has been supporting the “Save Mysore Campiagn” which is led by the city’s NGO, Mysore Grahakara Parishat protesting against the work being carried out on the hill. Noted writer S L Byrappa has joined the protest, along side the Mysuru royal family, well-known writers and others. Through his write-ups, he has been critical of the Chamundi hill development. But it had no impact on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who belongs to the district.

Despite having a plethora of laws to protect the environment, the officials are ready to interpret all of them to support the project rather than protecting the environment. Protecting environment does not seem to be their concern. Following their masters’ orders seems to be their duty. Only the judiciary can come to the rescue of the hill now.