Mysuru — Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has extended his support to a campaign opposing the proposal to host kambala (coastal buffalo race) as part of this year’s Dasara festivities, a delegation of the Joint Action Committee said on Saturday.
Delegation submits memorandum, MP pledges meeting with officials and activists
The delegation, which included representatives of several organisations, met the MP at his office on August 29 and submitted a memorandum calling on the government to drop the proposal to stage kambala during the Nada Habba. Receiving the memorandum, Mr. Wadiyar reiterated that he had already conveyed his opposition to the government’s plan, according to the delegation.
Parashurame Gowda, general secretary of Parisarakkagi Naavu, set out three core objections to holding kambala in the city during Dasara: potential dilution of the festival’s prestige, environmental damage at the chosen site and insensitivity in the face of ongoing drought conditions in the State.
“Organising kambala during Dasara would dilute the grandeur, prestige and uniqueness of the world‑famous festival,” Parashurame Gowda said, while also warning of traffic congestion, increased air and noise pollution and higher waste generation.
Site concerns: trees, lake and ecosystem at risk
The delegation alleged that the proposed kambala site, a 25‑acre tract under preparation near the VTU regional centre along the ring road at Sathagalli, contains hundreds of trees and a lake supporting small animals, birds, insects and other organisms. They claimed that trees were being felled and that the lake and its surrounding ecosystem were being damaged to facilitate the event, despite the land having been earmarked for a park.
Members asked the government to reconsider using a site with ecological value for a large, water‑intensive spectacle and urged priority be given to environmental protection and judicious land use in city planning.
Water stress and Dasara spending
The delegation also cited the State’s prevailing drought conditions and questioned the rationale for hosting a water‑heavy sport at a time of severe water stress. They urged authorities to focus resources on helping distressed farmers and to organise a frugal Dasara, saying spending on kambala would be insensitive under present circumstances.
- Festival integrity: Concern that kambala could dilute Mysuru Dasara’s cultural uniqueness.
- Environmental impact: Allegations of tree felling and damage to a lake and its ecosystem at the proposed site.
- Water use: Objection to staging a water‑intensive event amid drought and water scarcity.
Local infrastructure issues to be discussed
Beyond the kambala issue, Mr. Wadiyar promised that a meeting involving concerned officials and environmental activists would be convened to discuss the under‑construction flyover near Manipal Hospital Junction and the proposed underpass near Kukkarahalli lake, the delegation said. These local infrastructure projects have raised environmental and civic concerns among resident groups.
| Concern | Details |
|---|---|
| Festival character | Possible dilution of Dasara’s prestige by introducing kambala |
| Ecology | Claims of tree felling and threat to lake ecosystem at proposed site |
| Water use | Event requires significant water for slush tracks amid drought |
The delegation included U.N. Ravikumar and Kalachanne Gowda, among others. Officials from the District Administration, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and the Forest Department are reported to be in discussions over preparations for the event and the use of water for track construction. The Zilla Panchayat has convened sub‑committee meetings in recent days to plan logistics if the event proceeds.
The kambala proposal has divided opinion in the city: proponents highlight potential tourist interest during Dasara, while opponents raise environmental, civic and cultural objections. With the MP signalling support for the memorandum, the next few days are likely to see official consultations and local debates before any final decision is announced by the government.
Further outcomes will depend on the meeting Mr. Wadiyar has proposed between officials and environmental activists, and on any formal response from the State government to the memorandum submitted by the Joint Action Committee.
