Chamundi Hills in Mysuru, which is turning into a concrete jungle at the top, has been identified for more development under the Union government’s Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD).
While the concept is still in the preliminary stages, it will come with Central financial assistance for creating tourism-related infrastructure and services ranging from passenger terminals, ropeways, wayside amenities, drinking water outlets, cafeteria, and solid waste management plants.
Ramu, director of Tourism Department, Government of Karnataka, said the Centre has approved development of Chamundi Hills under PRASAD but the progress hinges on land availability at the foothills. “We want the district administration to identify and allot 15 to 20 acres of land for creating facilities for the introduction of battery-operated vehicles and drinking water distribution,” he said.
Pratap Simha, MP for Mysuru, said that though the proposal was accepted last April, the detailed project report was yet to be prepared. Chamundi Hills in Mysuru was proposed along with Kollur and Sringeri, he said.
When questioned about the need to develop Chamundi Hills, the MP said no works would be taken up on the hilltop. A section of officials in the Tourism Department said they could even take up afforestation under the scheme. But the PRASAD guidelines make no mention if this though they refer to general improvement through landscaping and planting of trees.
There is ambivalence on the scope of the scheme and on what the authorities intend to propose, but there is a fund of ₹100 crore up for grabs. “We can proceed only subject to the availability of land, after which the DPR can be prepared in consultation with stakeholders,” said Mr. Ramu. Other sources said the project consultants would be appointed by the Centre and they would prepare a detailed perspective plan with vision statement.
Incidentally, Chamundi Hills is a biodiversity hotspot, and NGOs and general citizens have been calling for its conservation by creating a buffer zone at the foothill to prevent further encroachment. Opposition to the ongoing works on a commercial complex and parking plaza atop the hill was brushed aside by the government.
