Protests broke out on the hills and various organizations called for a stoppage of work. | Photo credit: File photo
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As part of the ongoing campaign against further development work on Chamundi Hills and in an effort to protect its heritage and fragile environment, the Chamundi Betta Walk was organized on February 1. Participants will ascend the hill via steps to voice their concerns and oppose the increasing “commercialization and ecological degradation” of the area.
Various civic groups, activists and NGOs came together to organize a campaign trying to maintain momentum against any work on the hills. Organizers have invited anyone interested in the recent developments and wants to prevent Chamundi Hills from becoming a “concrete jungle” to gather at the foot of the hills near Suttur Math at 7.30 am. Key participants include Bhamy Shenoy of Mysuru Grahakara Parishat (MGP); Darshan Puttanaiah, Melukote MLA; Prof. NS Rangaraju, heritage expert; Badagalapura Nagendra, Farmer Leader; C. Basavalingaiah, former director of Rangayana, among others.
It may be recalled that a large number of people, including environmental activists, members of civic groups, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the public, participated in the Save Chamundi Hills campaign held on January 4. Participants opposed what they called “unscientific development” in the field.
Activists have explicitly expressed concern over the development work under the PRASHAD scheme and demanded an immediate halt to it. Protests broke out on the hills and various organizations called for a stoppage of work.
Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP also expressed his opinion on the matter and said that the state government must consider the concerns of those opposed to the project. “Since people have expressed that the work under PRASHAD could damage the heritage and ecology of the hills, their concerns need to be addressed,” he said.
Regarding the PRASHAD scheme, the MGP asked the Mysuru Deputy Commissioner to bring three key issues to the attention of the government, though the minister in-charge of Mysuru region, HC Mahadevappa, clarified that the work would not harm the heritage or ecology of the hills.
The MGP pointed out that since Chamundi Hills was declared a monument in the last Mysore Master Plan, prior approval of the Heritage Committee should have been obtained before any work on the hill began. “No such approval has been secured. A full-fledged Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should have been done but none has been done. Instead of removing illegal encroachments and promoting Chamundi Hill as a spiritual centre, efforts seem to be going in the opposite direction and turning it into a commercial hub,” the Parishat said.
Published – 28 Jan 2026 20:31 IST
