Karnataka - Mysore   

Ropeway to Chamundi Hills opposed

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, MARCH 5. The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has expressed reservations over the proposed ropeway project to Chamundi Hills.

In a press release, the MGP drew attention to the Minister of Tourism, D.T. Jayakumar's recent statement announcing the ropeway project and said it rekindles the issue of what is "good" for Mysore being decided without the consultation with local citizens' and official bodies.

The MGP said there was no study of immediate and long-term environmental effects nor was there a reality check of the economic feasibility of such a project. It said no cost-benefit analysis has been carried out showing what costs are paid by which stakeholders and what benefits accrue to which parties.

Highlighting the devastation that the project might cause to Chamundi Hills and the forests on the slopes, the MGP said the construction of stanchions for the cableway at every 30 metres entails clearance of forest on the hillside and for access paths to them for construction and maintenance.

"The stations at the two ends of the cableway require large area of land for the machinery, standby generators and parking space, and this will mean more land taken away from green cover. Operation of the cableway will entail noise and smoke from generators, and there are also questions of safety standards, maintenance, risk and insurance for travellers, etc. Aerial cableways may be a necessity for ski resorts but there is little logic in having one for Chamundi Hills, since it will also detract from the ambience of this heritage precinct", the MGP said.

Caution

It cautioned against going ahead with the project without a study. The MGP drew attention to similar projects undertaken in Mysore in the name of "development" in recent years and cited the example of water supply projects, property tax, Outer Ring Road, Lingambudhi tank, ADB loan, Cheluvamba Park among others.

The planning authority needs to prepare a feasibility report for the proposed cableway available to the public before any irreversible commitment is made, the MGP added.

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