4 months ago
1
Religious leaders from respective mutts joined biology activists and acrophobic citizens astatine the ft of Chamundi Hills connected January 4 greeting for a symbolic locomotion up the humanities steps to protestation the “increasing commercialisation and ecological degradation of the hills”.
Various organisations and individuals held placards successful English and Kannada that condemned what they called the “unscientific” improvement of the area.
Participants climbed the steps to protestation the hill’s “loss of ecological equilibrium and spiritual sanctity owing to unchecked commercialisation and inappropriate improvement projects”.
Shivakumar Swami of Nandiveri Mutt, Gadag, who joined the march, criticised the “concrete jungle” taking signifier atop Chamundi Hills. Stressing the value of protecting the situation and maintaining the hill’s cleanliness, the seer declared that biology extortion is some “dharma” and “service to spirituality”.
Other spiritual leaders who participated included Nijalingananda Swami of Nidasosi Mutt, Belagavi, Basavarajendra Swami of Kesvathur Mutt, Hassan, Mallesh Swami of Torenuru Mutt, Kodagu, and Jayadeva Swami of Chilume Mutt, Hassan.
Prominent figures among the hundreds of participants included A.T. Ramaswamy, erstwhile MLA who leads the biology radical Parisarakkagi Naavu, M.K. Somashekar, erstwhile MLA, S.G. Vombatkere, retired Major General, N.S. Rangaraju, retired University of Mysore prof of past past and archaeology, Bhamy V. Shenoy of Mysore Grahakara Parishat, environmentalist Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, BJP person Kautilya Raghu, and Kamal Gopinath from the People’s Union of Civil Liberties.
After climbing much than 1,000 steps, participants gathered other Subbanna High School, wherever refreshments were served and speakers addressed the crowd.
Parashurame Gowda of Parisara Balaga, which organised the event, described Chamundi Hills arsenic an iconic Mysuru landmark revered arsenic the abode of Goddess Chamundeshwari, noting that it is simply a protected wood country which is location to divers flora and fauna.
He said Chamundi Hills has mislaid its ecological equilibrium and spiritual sanctity owing to aggregate factors. “Everywhere, 1 tin spot artifact shops, eateries, pushcarts, sound and chaos, integrative waste, and heaps of garbage. The cleanliness and serenity that should prevail astir a temple and successful a wood is nary longer visible. Hundreds of residential and commercialized buildings person mushroomed, and vehicular postulation has accrued excessively,” helium added.
Mr. Gowda besides raised concerns astir improvement works projected nether the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme. “How overmuch load tin a tiny elevation truly bear? What is its carrying capacity? Without scientifically determining this, is it close to undertake much operation activities nether the PRASHAD scheme?” helium questioned, adding, “If this continues, experts pass that the elevation volition inevitably look superior dangers.”
