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The Hindu
25-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Ashada Shukravara: Environmental groups to be deployed to monitor devotees carrying single-use plastic atop Chamundi Hills
Volunteers from environmental groups would be deployed at the foot of Chamundi Hills on Friday during the Ashada Shukravara to dissuade devotees from carrying single-use plastic atop the hills. Representatives from Parisara Ulivigati Kriya Samithi, or Environment Protection Action, convened a press conference in Mysuru on Wednesday and said about 150 volunteers will be present at the foothills on Friday to monitor, prevent and assist the devotees so that single-use plastics are not taken uphill. The environmentalists, who appealed to the devotees to use only organic pooja material, also urged the Chamundeshwari Temple Area Development Authority to ensure that offerings such as baagina, badami milk and dry fruits are distributed without using the single-use plastic. 'We request the concerned departments to take strict measures to ensure that no vendors in Chamundi Hills, from the foothills to the hilltop, use any single-use plastic,' said Mr. Parashurame Gowda, a member of the Samithi. The Samithi has also appealed to the devotees visiting Chamundi Hills to avoid carrying pooja items, sweets, and snacks in single-use plastic containers. 'We request the devotees to bring natural turmeric and vermilion (kumkum) instead of those containing chemicals,' said the Samithi, in its statement. Meanwhile, president of PUCL, Mysuru, Kamal Gopinath, who is also a member of the Samithi, said the single-use plastics and other consumer wastes threatened the pristine Chamundi Hills and the authorities should strictly enforce the ban on single use plastic bags, water bottles and other such items used by tourists and devotees all around the year through sustained programmes instead of some 'peripheral and shallow' measures only during Ashada Fridays and festivals when there is a surge of devotees. He urged the authorities to make environmentally proactive norms a part of the tender process. Mr, Parashurame Gowda regretted that the declaration of Chamundi Hills as a plastic-free zone by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has remained largely on paper. Tourist Bungalow Mr. Kamal Gopinath has urged the State government to shelve its plans to construct a Tourist Bungalow atop Chamundi Hills and instead focus on the Department's core function of conservation and maintenance of the environment in this ecologically sensitive region. All the nine organisations that are part of the Samithi were unanimous in their opposition and condemnation of the proposed bungalow, he said. 'Chamundi Hills is ecologically sensitive, and no fresh constructions in any form or shape should be allowed atop the hills, which have recently recorded boulders rolling off the same and are also under constant threat owing to sustained erosion of the green belt around it', he said. Ms. Leela Shivakumar, Ms. Leela Venkatesh, Mr. Gokul of Clean Mysore Foundation, and Mr. Gantaiah of Parisara Balaga were also present.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mysuru: Environmentalists seek amendment to Karnataka Tree Preservation Act
Underlining lacunae in the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act in vogue in the State, an action committee to Save Environment (Parisara Ulivigagi Kriya Samithi), an umbrella organisation of various environmental groups in the city, has urged the government to make suitable amendments to strengthen it. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, members of the group led by activist Parashurame Gowda have called for abrogation of the clause that indemnifies government officials by providing a degree of protection from legal proceedings arising from their actions under the said Act. In addition, the powers to permit tree felling should be revoked from the Deputy Conservator of Forests and vested with officials of the rank of CF or above, said the letter. The environmentalists also called for declaration of a green zone around Chamundi Hills, Kukkarahalli Lake, Lingambudhi Lake etc and sought a ban on tree felling in a radius of 2 km to 5 km from these natural ecosystems. Calling for a long-term vision for road widening and other linear infrastructure works, the Government was asked to take up afforestation three years ahead of scheduled civic works which entail tree felling. Underlining the imperatives of the involvement of local people on environmental conservation issues, the Chief Minister was urged to appoint four senior persons, who are also interested in environment conservation, to the Tree Authority by bringing in a suitable amendment to the Tree Preservation Act. Members of the Committee said that it should be made compulsory to take permission of the Tree Authority in future to fell trees more than 10 years old within a radius of 5 km of a city or town. The amendment to the Act should ensure that all land - be it private or government land including gomal land, be brought under the purview of the Authority. Pointing out that at present the Tree Authority existed only on paper and it was inactive, the Committee suggested to the Chief Minister to revamp it and constitute new tree authorities at the ward level. The government was urged to identify trees that were on the verge of collapse and ensure that new saplings are planted ahead of their felling for public safety. In a bid to address the growing population of Mysuru and the accompanying vehicular density, the government was urged to develop satellite centres to decongest the existing city. The letter to the CM is a fallout of the tree felling incident in which 40 trees, each more than 40 years, was axed on the Hyder Ali Road for widening it and which triggered outrage among the public.
