Madikeri: Members of the Talacauvaery Moola Swaroopa Rakshana Samiti on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the proposed construction of a structure at Talacauvery saying it would harm the originality of the shrine and alter the surroundings of the starting point of the Cauvery. The samiti would oppose any move to convert the pilgrim centre into a tourist spot, they said.

Speaking to presspersons here, Ulliada M. Poovaiah, said Talacauvery should be preserved as a pilgrim centre. Concrete structures should not be allowed to come up near Talacauvery. The samiti has submitted a memorandum to the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama, which was now undertaking the renovations of temples at Talacauvery and Bhagamandala.

The memorandum said arrangements should be made to monitor the movement of visitors. Separate washing facilities should be provided to prevent them from contaminating water in the main tank overlooking the "Brahmakundike". The recently renovated Agastyeshwara and Ganapathi temples at Talacauvery were poorly maintained, the samiti said.

Kokkalera Cariappa and Pudiyanda K. Muthanna, members, said distribution of food at Talacauvery should be restricted only to the annual jatra days to keep the area clean. The proposal to renovate the main tank near the Brahmakundike should not alter the original structure of the tank, he said. Even while attempting to renovate the Brahmakundike, opinions of the elders and local people must be obtained, Mr. Cariappa said.

New constructions should not come up from Yatri Nivas at Bhagamandala en route to Talacauvery as the entire area was under the protected and reserve forests categories, he added.

The memorandum said signboards in Kannada, Kodava, English, Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi should be put up at Talacauvery for the benefit of pilgrims.

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