Karnataka: 108-feet statue of Lord Mahadeshwara atop MM Hills opposed

MYSURU: Around 30% of the work for the ambitious 108-ft tall statue of Lord Mahadeshwara at Deepadagiri Vaddu near MM Hills temple in Chamarajanagar district has been completed.
Sri Male Mahadeshwara Swamy Area Development Authority is constructing this idol at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore. The authority proposed a rope-way, besides developing the area on the lines of a heritage mountain.
Sri Male Mahadeshwaraswamy Kshetra Development Authority secretary Jayavibhava Swamy said the project is coming up on 41 acres of land.“The 108-ft tall statue includes 24-ft tall replica of the mountains. Inside the mountain replica, we will develop a 2-floor museum where stories related to Malai Mahadeshwara Swamy will be narrated. We will install numerous idols that explain the story of the lord, inside this museum,” he said.
According to Swamy, the other highlights will include a folk village, an amphitheater, a laser show, rope-way, etc. “We have also proposed footsteps to reach this statue at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore,” he said.
“We are confident that the works of this statue will be completed in the next 8-9 months,” he said.
MM Hills temple is one of the most popular temples in South India. Every day, thousands of devotees from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and other southern states visit this hill shrine.
Ecological concerns
Meanwhile, activists fear that the proposed statue work may become an ecological disaster. “If it is possible, it is better to drop this project keeping in mind the ecology of this entire stretch of mountains,” said activist Joseph Hoover.
“This project is not advisable in this area,” he added.
However, Jayavibhava Swamy downplayed any threats to nature from the project. “We are adding more greenery under the project. Presently, people are carrying out cultivation in this area. There is no green cover. We will increase the green cover. It will not cause any ecological problems,” he said.