Mysuru: Deputy commissioner KV Rajendra on Thursday directed officials to spread awareness among people not to feed pigeons in the surroundings of the Mysore Palace , mainly at the north gate (Balarama Gate), as the birds droppings on the heritage structure has affected the beauty of the building. He held a meeting with the Mysuru Palace Board, Mysuru City Corporation and other officials and discussed the issue in the wake of complaints that pigeons are posing a threat to the heritage structure. Both heritage experts and people of various organizations have voiced their concern about the issue.
He said he received reports that several philanthropic organizations daily feed two gunny bags of wheat, jowar, paddy and other grains. Tourists too feed the birds, he stated. Hundreds of pigeons roost around the palace leading to concern about the beauty and stability of the palace structure.
Various organizations complained that the statue of Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar, at the North Gate of the Palace and the area around the statue is riddled with waste, which is an insult to the king who has made several historical contributions to the development of erstwhile Mysore state. Heritage experts and environmentalists asked to stop feeding pigeons in front of the palace. The DC asked officials to spread awareness among people.
They must initiate measures to protect the beauty of the palace, maintain cleanliness in the two-km radius of the structure and make alternate arrangements to feed .
