MM Hills Temple is one of the most popular temples in South India.
Mysuru: Around 30% work has been completed for the 108 feet tall ambitious statue of Lord Mahadeshwar at Deepadagiri Vaddu near MM Hills temple in Chamarajanagar district.
Shri Male Mahadeshwar Swami Kshetra Development Authority is constructing this idol at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore. The authority proposed a ropeway, besides developing the area on the lines of a heritage mountain.
Jayavibhav Swamy, Secretary, Shri Male Mahadeshwaraswamy Area Development Authority said that the project is coming up on 41 acres of land. “The 108 feet tall statue includes a 24 feet high replica of the mountains. Inside the replica of the mountain, we will develop a 2-storey museum where stories related to Malai Mahadeshwar Swami will be told. We will install many sculptures narrating the story of God inside this museum.”
According to Swamy, other highlights will include a folk village, an amphitheater, a laser show, rope-way etc. “We have also proposed steps to reach this statue at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore,” he said.
“We are confident that the work on 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 temple.
ecological concern
Meanwhile, activists fear that the proposed statue work could become an ecological disaster. “If it is possible, it is better to abandon the project, taking into account the ecology of this entire stretch of mountains,” activist Joseph Hoover said.
“This project is not fair in this area,” he said.
However, Jayavibhav Swamy underestimated any threat to nature from the project. “We are adding more greenery under the project. Presently people are cultivating in this area. There is no green cover. We will increase the green cover. This will not cause any ecological problem,” he said.
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