Mysuru: Environmentalists  and devotees are seeing red as the beautiful backdrop to the City, Chamundi Hill is quietly being destroyed in the name of development.

In the precincts of Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Hill, PWD has taken up works worth Rs. 80 crore, building commercial complex, bus stand and other development works. The works are going on since one-and-a-half years. There are serious allegations by the environmentalists that the construction activity is causing extensive damage to the ecology of the region.

At the construction site, stones and rocks have been crushed to pulp. Along with this, a few other waste materials have been dumped into the nearby ditch. As the days pass, huge debris is getting accumulated.

If one stands from the side of Devikere, then it looks like a hill is on top of the hill. This has resulted in the loss of flora and fauna in the vicinity.

One fact that is more worrisome is that the debris is extending up to Devikere. Whenever it rains, the mud and stone washes away into the lake. If it rains heavily the lake might be completely covered with muck.

Feigning ignorance: It is very sad that no one is bothered about the debris collected in the hill. Even though there is so much of environmental destruction going on in the Chamundi Hill, which comes under the forest limits, the Forest Department has turned a blind eye, feigning ignorance.

If rocks have to be blasted then special permission is required. However, the work is going on violating rules. When so much is happening, the Chamundi Temple Administration and the Gram Panchayat are looking the other way, allege the environmentalists and devotees.

The ugly work that is going on and the debris collected is marring the beauty of the hill. However, it is surprising that no one is bothered to do something about the condition of the hill.

But about eight acres of private land has been bought and waste is being dumped here, is the argument of the GP members.

However, the public wonder that if the debris is dumped regularly over the years even though on a private land, then this kind of activity will definitely harm the region.

President of Jayaprakash Narayan Thinkers Forum, B.M. Shivakumar, a resident of Bengaluru and an ardent devotee of Goddess Chamundeshwari, is upset with the environmental destruction of Chamundi Hill.

He recalls that every year on Nov. 20, after the Dhatri Havana puja under the Gooseberry tree, the Goddess’s Utsava Moorty was being installed. Later, they would receive the prasada sitting on the steps of Devikere.

However, this year a pandal was erected on the road and puja offered to the Goddess, he said.

Asked why this time the practise was broken, Shivakumar was told that since the place where the puja was done had been covered with debris, it was shifted.

No one is opposing the development work. But in Goddess Chamundeshwari’s name itself land is being usurped, then those indulging in this kind of activity are bound to be cursed by the Goddess, he said expressing his ire.