Mysuru: Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has extended his support to the Joint Committee opposing the inclusion of the traditional buffalo race Kambala in this year’s Dasara festivities.

Meeting a delegation representing various organisations at his office yesterday, Wadiyar said, he had already conveyed his opposition to the Government’s proposal to hold Kambala as part of Dasara. He received a memorandum from the Committee members and said, the sanctity and uniqueness of the festival must be preserved.

Speaking on behalf of the Committee, ‘Parisarakkaagi Naavu’ General Secretary Parashuramegowda cited three major reasons for opposing the event.

He said, Dasara is known worldwide for its grandeur and uniqueness and that including Kambala would dilute its identity. It could also add to the city’s traffic problems and increase air and noise pollution as well as the burden of waste management, he said.

On environmental concerns, he said, the proposed venue has hundreds of trees, a lake and a fragile ecosystem supporting birds, animals and insects. Preparing the venue for Kambala could result in tree felling and filling of the lake, damaging biodiversity in an area originally earmarked for a public park, he alleged.

He also raised concerns over the drought situation in the State. With Karnataka facing a severe rainfall deficit, the Government has declared 101 taluks drought-hit, while groundwater depletion has been reported in 132 taluks.

Mysuru has eight drought-affected taluks and several parts of the city are facing drinking water shortages, he said.

Yaduveer Wadiyar also assured the delegation that he would convene a meeting of officials, environmental experts and activists to discuss ongoing infrastructure projects, including the flyover near Manipal Hospital Junction and the proposed underpass near Kukkarahalli Lake.

The delegation comprised wetland expert Prof. U.N. Ravikumar, Prof. Kalachannegowda, Prof. N.S. Rangaraju, Ravi Bale, Hosakote Basavaraju, M.G. Sadanandaiah, M.R. Janardhan, Banu Prashanth, Vishwanath, Mansoor Ahmad, P. Maramkaiah, Suresh, Shivashankar and Aishwarya, among others.