Gonikoppa: Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Bose Madappa, the President of Coorg Wildlife Society(CWS) said that – CWS strongly opposes the Kadamakal–Subrahmanya road project, railway project proposals, illegal land conversions, and the environmental degradation caused by unregulated tourism.
Road through Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary (Kadamakal–Subrahmanya road)
Referring to Madikeri MLA Dr. Manthar Gowda’s proposal for the construction of the Kadamakal–Subrahmanya road in the Legislative Assembly and the MLA’s request for the approval and funding of the road – Madappa, said that such projects would further aggravate environmental damage in Kodagu, which is already reeling under natural disasters, human-elephant conflict, climate change, and uncontrolled tourism.
Alleging that Kodagu is being used as a laboratory for political gain and vested interests, he referred to the petition filed before the Supreme Court by Air Marshal (Retd) K.C. Cariappa and Cauvery Sena organisation regarding the proposed Kadamakal-Subrahmanya road through the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary.
During the hearing of the case, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) conducted site inspections and submitted reports highlighting violations of forest and wildlife protection laws and halted the project. Criticising the renewed push for the Kadamakal–Subrahmanya road project, he said that proposing a road through the wildlife sanctuary while the matter remains under judicial scrutiny amounts to misleading the public and contempt of court.
Referring to the fragile geographical condition of Kodagu, which is yet to fully recover from the devastating natural calamities of 2018, he warned that cutting through hill regions such as Pushpagiri to construct roads could trigger another environmental disaster. He urged elected representatives to focus on alternative development initiatives rather than environmentally destructive projects.
Gratitude Expressed to Mysuru – Kodagu MP
Madappa also referred to discussions held by Member of Parliament Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar with the Union Railway Minister regarding a railway line to Kodagu. He expressed gratitude for the clarification issued by the Railway Department stating that there is no proposal for a railway line through Kodagu in its existing plans.
Sustainable Tourism Requires Robust Checks and Balances
He clarified that the association is not opposed to tourism. However, he noted that while Kodagu has a population of only five to six lakh people, it receives between 40 and 50 lakh tourists annually, placing enormous pressure on the district’s fragile ecosystem. He noted that many tourist destinations lack basic infrastructure and that waste management remains inadequate.
Pointing to the situation at Iruppu Falls, he said indiscriminate littering by tourists is causing environmental damage. He suggested that the district administration should first strengthen infrastructure and waste-management systems before further promoting tourism.
He further recommended adopting a regulated tourism model similar to that of Ooty by introducing a Green Pass system and implementing stricter controls on plastic usage to help preserve Kodagu’s environment.
Madappa also expressed concern over illegal land conversions, stating that coffee plantations and paddy fields are increasingly being transformed into tourism establishments. He urged the district administration and police department to take stringent action against unauthorised homestays operating without the necessary approvals from various government departments.
Association Secretary Chendanda Aiyappa and Joint Secretary Karthamada Naveen Bopaiah were also present at the press conference.
As people of kodagu, we are tired of hearing about the unnecessary proposals year after year while countless urgent issues remain unresolved. Crumbling roads , recurring landslides, power disruptions, waste management, water security, Healthcare and farmers distress demand needs immediate attention. Yet, the spotlight repeatedly returns to the various unnecessary projects that faces strong public and environmental opposition.
One cannot help but ask; why are authorities so determined to push the railway and other agendas when there are far more pressing concerns affecting the daily lives of kodagu’s people? Development should reflect the needs and aspirations of the people, not to be imposed at the cost of the region’s ecology and identity. Kodagu deserves solutions to its real problems, not endless debates over the projects which has consistently resisted.