MYSORE: The new movement by city-based youths to save Chamundi Hills from encroachment and highlight the perils of unbridled urbanisation and unregulated "development" has a 11-point objective that merits special attention.

Launched by members of the Mysore Amateur Naturalists (MAN) and supported by other NGOs such as the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore, Mysore Grahakara Parishat and other like-minded organisations, the campaign has been designated "Save Chamundi Betta". Its objectives include protection of the forest cover on Chamundi Hills, conservation of flora and fauna, introduction of solid waste management and garbage disposal units, promotion of eco-tourism and research, providing information to increase awareness and educating villagers surrounding Chamundi hills on the need for its conservation.

Creating awareness

The key objective of the organisation is to create public awareness and bring pressure on the Government to create a 500-metre buffer zone around Chamundi Hills to conserve the ecosystem as it is under pressure due to change in land use pattern.

What is disconcerting to environmental activists is that the Forest Department has not objected to the so-called development works including the proposed ropeway project.

The Forest Department received Rs. 49.45 million to take up conservation work as Chamundi Hills was stated to be "facing serious problems". Now, the same Forest Department has no qualms about supporting the ropeway project though it entails destruction of vast tracts of forests.

The Government had earlier notified over 5,000 hectares of land surrounding Chamundi Hills and brought it under the purview of Nehru Loka. The concept entailed regulating land use pattern and freezing all construction activity that endangered the fragile ecosystem. But the concept was never implemented and was finally abandoned a few years ago.

However, it was a blessing in disguise to Chamundi Hills as it prevented construction activity. But following the denotification of land and relaxing the land use pattern, more buildings came up. This coupled with encroachment threatened to destroy the fragile environment.

It is in this context that the concept of buffer zone around Chamundi Hills is important. It was mooted earlier by environmentalists and intellectuals of the city. The buffer zone entails demarcating 500 metres around Chamundi Hills and notifying the land and banning all activities that threatens the ecology of the region.

Citizens' report

The citizens of Mysore had come together on a common platform and said that to prevent encroachment and further erosion of green cover, the authorities should introduce the concept of core conservation zone where land can only be used for social forestry and similar activities.

They suggested that the remaining area be declared as a peripheral conservation area with land use pattern restricted to activities such as horticulture and agriculture. But the citizens' report submitted under the banner of the Mysore Agenda Task Force received a muted response.

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