Mysuru: Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development V. Somanna said on Tuesday August 2 that the government will drop the proposal to declare MM Hills forest as a Tiger Reserve. The decision comes after objections from locals and farmers to the proposed plans. He made it clear that the State Government will not approve the Tiger Project proposal since the MM Hills is an important site for pilgrimage and a number of villages are located there.
He felt that the project should not have an impact on the local people or the pilgrims that visit the shrine on the hills.
Speaking to mediapersons Somanna referred to the farmers as the owners of MM Hills and said any project must promote regional development, create facilities for the general public, and not conflict with the interests of the people. “We won’t approve the Tiger Project,” he said.
