By Bhamy V. Shenoy and Ashvini Ranjan
Recent visitors to Chamundi Hill who have peeked through the barricades must have wondered what happened to all the protests and Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP). Unfortunately, construction activities on the Hill to build multi-level parking, shopping complex and shelter for pilgrims are progressing at rapid speed. MGP has not been a mute spectator ever since the construction resumed towards the end of 2016 after submitting a so-called Environmental Management Plan (EMP). MGP, besides giving a chronology of public protests during the last year to stop the vandalisation of Chamundi Hill, wants to give the latest attempt by MGP to save Chamundi Hill even at this late stage. Since Chamundeshwari Temple generates huge funds and has accumulated over Rs. 80 crore, politicians always have ever been ready to dream of projects to spend it in the name of development and to provide facilities to increasing number of pilgrims. Projects like widening the roads to facilitate faster movement of cars, constructing multi-level parking space, huge shopping complex, shelter to prevent waiting in the sun, were proposed from time to time. Though the politicians were fully aware that all such projects would harm the delicate ecology and affect the beauty of the Hill, greed of earning money was uncontrollable. It was the gazette notification of April 28, 2016 paving the way for widening of road on the Hill that caught the attention of MGP and other activists to initiate protest against the vandalisation of the Hill. In April 2016, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a slew of construction projects in the name of development. Earlier also there have been attempts to “develop” the Hill by building a canopy over the climbers’ steps and ropeway which also would have resulted in damaging the ecology of the Hill. Thanks to public protests led by MGP, they were stopped with the assurance to protesters that the original developmental plan would be altered suitably.
