MGP opposes construction work atop Chamundi Hills

'Chamundi Hills different from Tirumala or Male Mahadeshwara Hills'

Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to review development proposals and to drop construction activity atop Chamundi Hills.

Mysore Grahakara Parishat  president R Chandra Prakash, in the letter, has urged the chief minister not to construct guest house, VIP guest house, dasoha building, administrative building for shopping complex, commercial complexs, dormitory, multi-level parking lot and roof for the path of the devotees.

The parishat has suggested consolidation of the existing assets atop the Chamundi Hills and setting up a system to prevent pollution and to handle the waste, so that the Chamundi Hills is made into a model religious and cultural tourism destination.

Over the years, the precincts of the Chamundeshwari temple have been over-run by constructions, many ill-egal and many badly planned.

The dasoha building is a glaring example, which has continuous adverse civic and environmental impacts, since the arrangement for drinking water supply, disposal of food waste and sanitation are inadequate.

There are several commercial buildings, resulting in litter and huge quantities of solid waste. Even though it is declared ‘plastic-free zone’, the entire area is littered with plastic bags and other non-biodegradable waste.

The proposal of the planners to develop the Chamundi Hills as a tourism destination on the lines of Tirumala or Male Mahadeshwara Hills is unfortunate.

Chamundi Hills is quite different, since Mysuru City is nearby, with good bus connectivity. Pilgrims need not stay atop the hill. An increase in the number of people staying on the Chamundi Hills will adversely affect its ecological balance and religious sanctity, Prakash claims.