Mysuru: In a big boost to Sunday’s walk to Chamundi betta, the second such protest in recent weeks against PRASHAD works, Mysuru royal family matriarch Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah announced their participation. They extended their support to the ongoing Save Chamundi Hills drive.Parashurame Gowda, general secretary of People for Environment, said that permanent structures are now being constructed atop the betta against the court order. “Experts have raised serious concerns over ongoing development works near the Chamundeshwari Temple, warning that they could pose a threat to the historic shrine and its Rajagopuram.“Soil has reportedly been filled between large boulders to level the area, and experts fear that this could cause the boulders to slip, endangering the temple structure and even leading to the collapse of the Rajagopuram,” he said.Heritage experts point out that both the Mahabaleshwara Temple and the Chamundeshwari Temple are protected heritage structures, and that no construction activity should be carried out within a 100-metre radius of their periphery. However, they allege that this guideline is being violated.“Environmental groups have also expressed alarm, noting that over the past 25 years, excessive construction of houses and buildings took place atop Chamundi Hill without any proper assessment of the hill’s carrying capacity or the environmental impact of such development,” said Parashurame Gowda.“Chamundi Hill was officially declared a protected forest area. Despite this, the district administration continues to permit works on the hill,” he charged.The protest will start at 7.30am. Mysuru Grahakara Parishat (MGP), Team Mysuru, RLHP, PUCL and Belavala Foundation have announced their support for the protest.“Prominent citizens like Bhamy Shenoy, Dharmendra Kumar, NS Rangaraju, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Badagalapura Nagendra, Ramakrishnappa, Kamal Gopinath and Saraswathi K, along with hundreds of concerned residents, will participate in the protest,” he said, adding it will be a silent protest.
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