The Department of Forests has banned the use of microphones and such ‘intrusive’ activities during the 108 shiv ling pratishtapana mahotsava and fair on Monday at the Beladakuppe Mahadeshwara temple which falls in the limits of Bandipur National Park in HD Kote.

The move comes in the wake of stiff resistance by environmentalists and a report that appeared in the Deccan Herald which highlighted the detrimental impact of use of microphones, conducting of fair and groundbreaking ceremony for the temple on the wildlife in the vicinity of the national park.