PRASHAD project atop Chamundi Hills questioned

Activists say it will add to the growing pressure on the environment

The proposed development of Chamundi Hills under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme has come under flak from a section of the citizens who said this would add to the growing pressure on the environment.

The proposal for the project comes close on the heels of a movement launched to save Chamundi Hills that is gaining traction with an online petition gathering over 40,000 signatures. The movement was revived consequent to a series of landslips that led to road caving in, highlighted the growing ecological fragility of Chamundi Hills, and the imperatives of its conservation.

Though Chamundi Hills was included under the PRASHAD scheme when announced a few years ago, it did not get started and was subsequently dropped due to a faulty DPR. Hence the government submitted another plan which envisages a series of measures to embellish the temple precincts and the surroundings of Devikere, Nandi statue, relocation of kiosks, and construction of a rajagopura, apart from an interactive museum highlighting the contribution of the Wadiyars etc.