CRYING FOR ATTENTION: Unplanned development is threatening the very existence of the Chamundi Hills in Mysore.

MYSORE: Support to save the Chamundi Hills from degradation and reckless development is increasing even as the State Government has turned a blind eye to encroachments around the hills.

The latest to join the movement are the Bharath Hospital and Institute of Oncology and Bharath Diagnostic Centre which have announced a "Swachcha Chamundi Betta" programme.

The announcement follows reckless dumping of non-degradable garbage on and around the hills. B.S. Ajay Kumar of the Bharath Hospital told presspersons here on Thursday that the programme will be launched on Sunday to create awareness among the people against dumping garbage around the hills.

Heaps of garbage, he said, shows the apathy of officials to maintain the heritage status of the hills.

Tourist destination

Urging the people to participate in the programme to clean up the Chamundi Hills, Dr. Ajay Kumar said the hills is one the important tourist destinations in Mysore which should to be protected.

Referring to the ropeway project, Dr. Ajay Kumar said: "The plan to build a ropeway reflects the hypocritical attitude of the Government towards environment protection."

The Government, instead of cleaning up the area, is embarking on a project that will benefit a few, he said. The increasing concern by the residents of Mysore towards conservation and protection of the Chamundi Hills follows reckless and unplanned development around the Chamundi Hills by some individuals.

The problem aggravated following the Government's decision to disband the Nehru Loka Project.

Encroachment

Further, several buildings have come up in the region. Environmentalists have voiced their concern against the increasing encroachment upon the buffer zone.

The inherent threat to the Chamundi Hills and its ecosystem from "development projects" conceived by the Government makes it imperative to draw a buffer zone to prevent encroachment and conserve its pristine environs.

The concept of buffer zone assumes significance in the light of the renewed controversy over the ropeway project proposed for the Chamundi Hills.

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