Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, along with activists, representatives of NGOs, and others during the protest against PRASHAD at the foothills of Chamundi in Mysuru on February 1.
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram
The campaign to save Chamundi Hills and oppose development works that threaten its heritage and fragile ecosystem intensified on February 1, with hundreds of people participating in a protest walk up the hill steps.
Organised under the banner ‘Parisarakkagi Naavu’, the walk aimed to oppose development works being undertaken under the PRASHAD scheme and to protect the sanctity of the hills, which activists say have witnessed unabated construction and commercial activity over the years.
The protest drew participation from NGOs, citizen groups, environmental activists, students, and progressive thinkers. This was the second such walk organised, following a similar protest last month that also evoked a strong public response.
The campaign received support from Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, who addressed the gathering at the foothills and expressed her solidarity with the cause of safeguarding Chamundi Hills.
Prominent activists who took part in the walk included Bhamy V. Shenoy and Maj. Gen. (retd) S.G. Vombatkere from Mysore Grahakara Parishat, heritage expert N.S. Rangaraju, activist Dharmendra Kumar, and Parasurame Gowda of Parisarakkagi Naavu, besides representatives of various organisations.
In her address, Ms. Wadiyar reiterated the need to protect the hills for future generations.
Opposing construction activities on the hills and demanding an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Mr. Shenoy said, “Around 1700, Easter Island was a green island with beautiful trees. Because people failed to preserve them, it became uninhabitable, and the population fell from 15,000 to less than 1,000 within a few decades. Environmentalists often cite Easter Island to show what happens when nature is ignored. Unfortunately, we will face a similar disaster if we fail to stop and urgently reverse concretisation.”
Students carried placards supporting protection of the environment and warning against the loss of the hill’s heritage and spiritual value owing to excessive development, cautioning that Chamundi Hills could turn into a “concrete jungle”.
Expressing serious concern over ongoing construction works, participants warned of the risk of landslides and irreversible damage to the hill ecosystem. Some also cautioned against the long-term impact of the developments, citing the collapse of the Nandi statue road, which took years for authorities to repair.
Parisarakkagi Naavu representatives suggested that funds sanctioned under the PRASHAD scheme could instead be utilised for developing parking facilities at the foothills, introducing zero-emission buses to the hilltop, and improving drainage maintenance and solid waste management.
Published – February 01, 2026 07:01 pm IST
