Mysuru, 1 Feb

Hundreds of activists, including children, climbed the steps to Chamundi Hills in Mysuru on Sunday to stage a protest against the ongoing Pilgrimage Rejuvenation, Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) works.

The much-revered Chamundeshwari Temple is located atop the Chamundi Hills.

Lending his support to the agitation against the conservation activities at the Chaumundi Hills, the matriarch of the Mysuru royal family, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, also participated in the protest. The protesters, holding placards and shouting slogans, demanded the immediate suspension of the ongoing works.

Members of the Chamundi Betta Ulisi Horata Samithi and other activists have organised a series of protests in opposition to the concretisation activities and other development works here.

They urged to safeguard its heritage and fragile environment, and opposed the increasing “commercialisation and ecological degradation” of the area.

They alleged that the increasing development works, which have been initiated for Rs 62 crore, will result in the creation of a concrete jungle of the hills.

One of the protesters said, “Since Chamundi Hills was declared a heritage site in the Mysuru master plan, prior approval from the Heritage Committee should have been obtained before undertaking such activities.”