Mysuru royal family opposes ropeway project at Chamundi Hill

NT Correspondent

The campaign against new projects atop Chamundi Hill got a shot in the arm with Pramodadevi Wadiyar, wife of late Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadiyar, the late scion of the Mysuru royal family, strongly opposing the proposed ropeway project saying it will destroy nature.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, she said the ropeway project was unwarranted as hardly 15-20 minutes are taken to reach the hilltop on a two or fourwheeler from the foothills. Usually, a ropeway is provided if the hill is inaccessible to vehicles and is steep. But Chamundi Hills, the abode of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru, is approachable by road and has 1,001 steps, she said.

The Rajamatha said no concrete based project must be taken up on the hill top or in surrounding areas of the hill. The sanctity of the hill shrine must not be spoiled in the name of development of tourism, she added.

It may be mentioned here that recently, like-minded people of Mysuru from various walks of life held a round table meeting to oppose new projects atop Chamundi Hill in the name of promotion of tourism.