Chikkamagaluru: Despite the district administration and tourism department collecting entry fees from tourists visiting Chandradrona hill stations, the area continues to lack basic facilities.There is no drinking water, functional toilet or changing room for women at Manikyadhara atop the hills.Hundreds of vehicles daily cross Kaimara, the gateway to the Chandra Drona hill range that houses Mullayyanagiri, Dattapitha and Manikyadhara. The fee is Rs 50 for a bike, Rs 100 for a car, Rs 150 for an SUV, and Rs 200 for a Tempo Traveller.During the peak tourist season, monthly toll collection comes to nearly Rs 45 lakh. Yet, visitors continue to be hobbled by lack of basic facilities.Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Shivaramegowda faction) workers staged a protest recently over lack of facilities. “For six months, we staged a symbolic protest — half-clad – and handed memorandums to govt officials concerned. Yet, no one listened to us,” said Sumanth, the Vedike district president.The road from Kaimara to Mullayyanagiri has no road signs or streetlights. There is no drinking water at Mullayyanagiri or Seethalayyanagiri. At Manikyadhara waterfalls, where devotees bathe, there is no changing room for women. They are forced to change clothes in vehicles. There are no dustbins, no medical centre, and no police outpost despite a 5,000-plus footfall on weekends, he alleged.“Tourists are going back with bad memories and are unlikely to return due to these inconveniences,” said Raghunath, a homestay owner.Tourists say they’re not against fee collection. “We will happily pay Rs 200 if you provide a clean toilet, sufficient drinking water, and parking space,” said a biker group from Mysuru.Tourism officials claim a proposal to build toilets, drinking water dispensers, changing rooms and to carry out road repair work has been sent to the department and work is expected to start soon.Despite this assurance, there is no official timeline yet to carry out the works for much-needed civic amenities at the site.
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