Mysore, Oct. 2 (KK&KMC)- Visitors driving up to the Chamundi hill, either to visit the Chamundeshwari temple, the Nandi statue or merely for sight-seeing, need not pay any entry fee as it has been scrapped with immediate effect by the District Administration, announced Deputy Commissioner Harsha Gupta yesterday.

“During May 2010, there had been an agreement between the District Administration, the Chamundi Hill Gram Panchayat and the contractor to repay the tender amount to the contractor, following the scrapping the entry fee collection. The amount had to be repaid before Sept. 30, failing which the contractor was to be allowed to begin collection again," the DC explained and added, "As soon as the matter came to the notice of the District Administration, the Muzrai Department Thahsildar was sent to the spot, who, as per the DC’s instructions, ordered to stop the vehicle entry fee collection.

“The money due to the contractor will be paid by the District Administration, about which the government has been kept informed,” the DC said.

The contractor C. Krishna Kumar, when contacted in this regard, said that though he had received a letter from the Gram Panchayat Secretary at 8.30 pm yesterday, asking him to stop the collection and got instructions from the DC too over the phone, he was given no assurance about the payment due to him. “I have not yet decided to stop the collection either,” he said.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore