After legal victory, renovated Chamundi Hills Interpretation Centre reopens to public

Minister in charge of Mysuru district, H.C. Mahadevappa, inaugurated the renovated Chamundi Vana and Interpretation Centre at Chamundi Hills on Wednesday.
The interpretation centre is located close to the statue of Mahishasura and is being re-developed at a cost of nearly ₹1 crore. The project further included the development of a tree park, Rashi Vana, and a Nakshtra Vana, all of which are taking shape.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Territorial) K.N. Basavaraju said that the inauguration of the interpretation centre constituted the first phase of the project, and the Tree Park and the Rashi Vana will be developed in the coming days.
The concept of Pavitra Vana entails the growth of trees that also have a religious and philosophical connection apart from medicinal importance, and they will be grown here. The trees that will be grown here will include Peepal, Banyan, Amla or Indian Gooseberry, Arjuna, Wood Apple, Neem, Indian Rosewood, Mango, Flame of the Forest, Jackfruit or Halasu, Banni or Rusti Acacia, and Sandalwood to name a few.
Additionally, trees associated with different constellations will also be grown, including Fig, Bilva, Ashoka, Amla tree, Nerale or Jamun, Mahogany etc.
The Nakshatra Vana will have trees associated with 27 constellations and include Arjuna, Halasu, Tulasi, Kadamba, Bevu, Palasha, Nagakesar etc.
Mr. Mahadevappa said that though an interpretation centre existed at Chamundi Hills, it was closed following a legal dispute over the land in 2011. Subsequently, the Forest Department scoured for documents transferring the ownership and traced it at the State Archives in Mysuru and filed an appeal in the High Court of Karnataka, which upheld the claims of the Forest Department.
Mr. Basavaraju said he searched for the documents and retrieved important ones apart from an order copy dated February 12, 1945, which indicated that the then Maharaja of Mysuru had acquired and transferred nearly 20 acres of land under private domain to the Forest Department. This was submitted to the High Court of Karnataka, which ruled that ''once a forest always a forest'' and ordered on July 30 last year that the land belonged to the Forest Department, said Mr. Basavaraju.
The interpretation centre will not only provide information about environment in general but will also throw light on Chamundi Hills and its ecosystem.
Apart from educating the general public on environmental issues, the interpretation centre will also publicize many of the forest department's projects like Krishi Aranya Prothsaha Yojane (KAPY), information pertaining to human-animal conflict, sandalwood farming, projects that reduce pressure on forests by providing LPG cylinder as fuel for local communities living along the forest boundary, about forest martyrs or those who died while protecting the forests and wildlife from poachers, timber smugglers etc, apart from providing information on imperatives of environment and wildlife conservation.
Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Chief Conservator of Forests of Mysuru Circle Ms. Malathi Priya, DCF Basavaraju and others were present.

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