[ಕನ್ನಡ ಅನುವಾದ ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ಬರಲಿದೆ — Kannada translation coming soon]
Majority literate population of the city led by the city’s NGO, Mysore Grahakara Parishat has been leading a massive campaign, “Save Chamundi Hill”. Noted writer S L Byrappa has joined the protest. His article, “Tourism Kills Tourism” critical of Chamundi development has received extensive publicity in Mysore. Even the Royal family members have joined the protest. But it had no impact on Chief Minister, a Mysorean, Siddaramaiah. Because of the unrestricted traffic movement of pilgrims and tourists, traffic on the hill has been increasing every year causing total chaos when they reach top of Chamundi. Still during the last seven years, there have been just less than 10 traffic accidents per year. Village panchayat has not been strict in implementing the rule of law. Only shops serving puja materials ( less than five) should have been given licenses. However today there are more than 460 shops when only 91 shops have been given licenses. These shops and more than 50 eateries located all around the temple have added to traffic congestion. In recent years, because of the visits by celebrities like Tamilnadu CM, Jayalalitha, and political leaders of all types, Chamundeshwari temple has been drawing huge crowds of devotees and tourists. Devotees had to wait for hours in long lines sometimes under scorching sun. Last year income of the temple was Rs. 23 crores and accumulated FDs was around Rs 70 crores. As the saying goes, where there is tons of money, greed and corruption follows despite the sanctity of the temple. GOK came with a “development” plan to make use of the tons of money to solve myriad problems to promote tourism and help devotees. GOK’s plan to spend Rs 80 crores consisted of constructing a commercial complex for 116 shops, dormitory block, queue line with toilets, road construction, multi-story parking building for 600 cars. Contract has been awarded to KBR Infratech Company of Bengaluru. Foundation stone was laid by the CM on April 29, 2016 and work is expected to be completed by October 12, 2017. Such a massive investment in a place surrounded by reserve forest and several heritage sites should have required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), approval from heritage committee, Environmental Management Plan (EMP), approval from Central Forest and state forest ministries, public hearing etc. Unfortunately without going through any formal approval processes to protect the fragile environment of Chamundi, GOK has started the work on the hill. Thanks to protests by the activists, and plodded by the former district-in-charge minister
Srinivas Prasad, Deputy Commissioner has finally directed the PWD officials to conduct an EMP rather than an EIA which is far more comprehensive. EMP is perfunctory and is not detailed enough to take into consideration an integrated look at the project. It looks as though the government has no intention of taking a look at other alternatives which not only solves the problems of the pilgrims but also promotes environmental protection. Local forest ministry has been denying approval to widen the road since it will harm the delicate ecology. There are more than 400 species of flowering and rare medicinal plants and 150 species of birds. A central forest ministry delegation also after visiting Chamundi in 2013 has recommended not to allow any development in the reserve forest. However the argument of the GOK is that the area where the work has started does not belong to the reserve forest. During the months of Ashada when the numbers of devotees is very large, no private vehicles are allowed on the hill and they are taken by buses. If such an arrangement is made a permanent feature than there will be no need to have a parking building and also widening of the road. Is there any urgent need to have more than three or four pooja materials selling shops on the hill? By having more trees and greenery around the temple and through imaginative queue control techniques, devotee line can be shortened and more comfortable ambience can be created. A full blown EIA would have come up with such environmentally sound strategies. Only the judiciary can come to the rescue of Chamundi. Despite having plethora of laws to protect the environment, officials are ready to interpret all of them to support the project rather than protecting the environment. Protecting environment is not their concern. Following their masters’ orders is their ‘duty”. The on going project on Chamundi can be compared to the camel entering the tent in an Arabian tale. In the course of time Mysore will lose its iconic symbol, Chamundi Hill as a result of further encroaching in the name of development. This will be a big loss to Karnataka also. This is even more ironical especially when India is a signatory to the recent Paris Conference on Climate Change. India has submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce green house gases and improve forest coverage. When India’s forest coverage is less than 33% as required, Karnataka’s is less than 22% and Mysore’s is 16%, we