Farmers, green warriors protest amusement park, Cauvery aarti plans

Mysuru: Farmers and environmentalists in Mandya and Mysuru districts have intensified their protests against the state’s government’s decision to set up an amusement park on the premises of the Krishnaraja Sagar dam in Mandya district.

They even questioned the chief minister on the
rationale behind the move, when he visited the district recently.

They feel that this move, along with the Cauvery aarti programme, will harm the ecosystem and infrastructure around the dam, and could even weaken the 94-year-old dam.

Farmer leaders, led by advocate M Shivaprakash, have filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the High Court. The hearing is scheduled for June 26.

Tender process

Amid stiff opposition to the proposal in the old Mysuru region, the state government has set in motion the tender process for the amusement park to be built at a cost of Rs 2,663 crore.

The project for upgrading the Brindavan Gardens was first proposed in 2018, when H D Kumaraswamy was CM. He had proposed a 125-ft statue of Goddess Cauvery and an amusement park. However, the project was shelved after the Congress-JD(S) coalition government lost power. It gained momentum again and was proposed in the 2024-25 budget. The administrative nod was given for Rs 2,663 crore amusement park in 2024 and the tender process is underway, according to Cauvery Neeravari Nigam (CNN) engineers.

Farmer leader Sunanda Jayaram, who has been opposing the project, said, “The proposed project would impact the KRS dam, which is the lifeline of the people of Mandya, Mysuru and Bengaluru districts. It would affect the environment and also agriculture of the region. The government should drop the idea in the interest of the farmers,” she said.

The gram panchayats, under the KRS dam limits, farmers and the people of Mandya district have been opposing the project from the beginning. But, why is the government adamant on the project? Why has it secretly started works on Cauvery ‘Aarti’? she asked.

The authorities have started to acquire around 25 acres of land for vehicle parking. It should be stopped. The Raitha Sangha and progressive organisations have opposed it right from 2018. The government should shelve this, said farmer leader K Boraiah.

As per the project, the amusement park will have a statue of Goddess Cauvery, water park, penguin park, water plane ride, roller coaster, hot air balloon ride, parasailing, aroma garden, botanical garden, jungle boat ride, skywalk, wax museum, food plaza and multi-level parking, according to CNN engineers.

The project has been planned, keeping the safety of the dam in mind. The park would be upgraded, but no huge structures would be constructed, the officials said.

Cauvery ‘Aarti’

The government’s initiative of holding ‘Cauvery Aarti’, on the lines of ‘Ganga Aarti’ in Varanasi and Haridwar, has also been opposed. “This will promote superstitious beliefs and also affect water quality,” said Sunanda Jayaram.

Environmentalist Yogeesh said that the farmers of the region offer puja to River Cauvery every year, once the dam fills. What is the need for Cauvery ‘Aarti’, that is being done only for commercial purpose? The people of Bengaluru should oppose the projects, as they are also the beneficiaries of the KRS dam water, he said. 

It can be recalled that the farmers had asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, “Who asked for an amusement park at a cost of Rs 2,663 crore?” during his visit to a temple ceremony in Mandya district, recently.