Mysuru Heritage Committee Faces Scrutiny Over Expert Absence Amid PRASHAD Works
In Mysuru, a growing controversy surrounds the Pilgrimage, Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) project atop the iconic Chamundi Hills. As activists intensify their opposition to the ongoing development works, serious questions are being raised about the functionality and composition of the local heritage committee, the nodal agency entrusted with safeguarding the city's rich cultural legacy.
Allegations of Expert Exclusion and Rule Violations
Activists have leveled allegations that the Mysuru heritage committee currently operates without any expert members, a situation they claim has directly contributed to the crisis unfolding at Chamundi Hills. According to sources within multiple government agencies, the term of the previous committee expired approximately six months ago, and the current formation conspicuously lacks the experts mandated by law.
Officials speaking on condition of anonymity have described this as a serious violation of established rules. They emphasize that in a properly constituted heritage committee, experts typically raise crucial concerns regarding conservation and restoration. "With no experts present, decisions are being taken unilaterally, bypassing essential checks and balances," one official revealed.
Committee Composition and Current Deficiencies
Documents obtained for a heritage committee meeting held in December 2025 indicate that only ex-officio members, who are government servants, were invited to participate. The Mysuru heritage committee is supposed to have a strength of 21 members. This includes 10 ex-officio members such as the District Commissioner, officials from the archaeology department, the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), town planning, and tourism departments.
The remaining 11 positions are reserved for experts with a minimum of ten years of experience in specialized fields. These mandated roles include:
- A structural engineer
- A representative from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
- A heritage architect
- An environmentalist
- An academician from history or archaeology
- A natural historian
- An artist
- Two representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- A representative of the Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN)
However, sources confirm that none of these expert positions are currently filled. "If experts were part of the committee, they would have certainly raised objections to all developmental activities on Chamundi Hills," explained insiders familiar with the matter.
Expert Opinions and Administrative Response
Prominent heritage expert NS Rangaraju has stated that excluding experts from the heritage committee appears to be a deliberate and well-thought-out strategy to facilitate the approval of projects that may be detrimental to heritage conservation. "Experts, if included, would not permit the committee to grant permissions for potentially destructive projects. They advocate for the city's historical and heritage interests. This exclusion represents a deeply regrettable development," Rangaraju remarked.
Activist Bhamy V Shenoy has called upon the district administration to adopt greater transparency in all matters pertaining to heritage conservation, urging adherence to proper procedures and inclusive decision-making.
In response, Deputy Commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy has maintained that the heritage committee is fully functional. He asserted that the committee, comprised of officials, operates regularly and conducts meetings as required, though he did not address the specific allegations regarding the absence of expert members.
The ongoing dispute highlights a critical tension between developmental initiatives under schemes like PRASHAD and the imperative to preserve Mysuru's unparalleled heritage, with the composition of the heritage committee now at the heart of the debate.
