Maharaja of Mysore joins ‘Save Chamundi’ campaign

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja, the 27th and present titular Maharaja of Mysore and head of the former ruling Wadiyar dynasty, has joined hands with the members of the ‘Save Chamundi’ campaign.

The campaign is gaining momentum with each passing day as more and more bigwigs are joining the campaign. Maharani Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and Literateur S.L. Bhyrappa also joined the protest with more than 500 citizens.

In the month of April, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had laid the foundation stone for various development work atop the hills. The entire budget of the development work is somewhere around Rs.79.34 crore. He had also stressed on how Chamundeshwari temple would turn into something like the one on Tirumala post this development. The project is supposed to include a commercial complex with 116 shops, a multi-level parking complex and sheltered queues among others. Besides all this, the existing roads will also be widened.

Renowned writer SL Bhyrappa inaugurated the 'Save Chamundi Hills' campaign and stressed on the fact that Chamundi hill is a pilgrimage centre and not a tourist attraction, and thus all of this development is not needed. He also added that people should come to the hills with a mind to pray and not to shop. Rani Pramoda Devi requested the government to protect the sacredness of the hill and the serenity of nature. She also said that she’s going to write a letter to the government pleading to stop this development work.

Kripakar Senani, famous photographers, KB Ganapati, senior journalist, and many young people had gathered to oppose the development.