Mysuru, Sept. 13 -- A controversy has erupted over the unauthorised drilling and destruction of massive rock formations on private land atop Chamundi Hill, sparking outrage among environmentalists, local villagers and trekkers.

The activity was detected near the steps route to the Hill, behind a Government School in Survey No. 24/2, where the landowner allegedly began removing five to six large boulders with the help of labourers and heavy-duty drilling machinery.

Holes were bored into the rocks, and the boulders were pulverised without mandatory clearance from the Forest Department. Over the past few days, vigilant citizens noticed the large-scale drilling and suspected it to be illegal mining on the Hill, which is classified as a prot...