The Codava National Council (CNC) staged a peaceful satyagraha in Madikeri recently demanding the immediate removal of mega townships and resorts established by what it described as outside investors, alleging that such developments are causing environmental degradation and placing unsustainable pressure on Kodagu’s fragile ecosystem. The satyagraha, held in front of the DC’s Office under the leadership of CNC President N.U. Nachappa, highlighted what the organisation described as the adverse environmental and cultural impacts of large-scale commercial developments in Kodagu.
Addressing the gathering, Nachappa demanded the demolition of all mega townships and resorts established or currently under construction by non-local investors in the Kodava region. He contended that such developments pose a serious threat to the lives, heritage and environment of the indigenous Kodava community.
He also called for an immediate halt to the conversion of agricultural land, particularly coffee plantations, stating that unchecked land conversion endangers both Kodagu’s coffee economy and the ecological balance of the region. Referring to observations reportedly made by the Karnataka High Court regarding land conversion, he urged the government to take immediate corrective measures.    Drawing a comparison with Himachal Pradesh, Nachappa demanded that only local residents be permitted to operate homestays in Kodagu. He further urged the government to protect indigenous Kodava culture, local communities and the district’s fragile environment.
Referring to the landslides and natural disasters in neighbouring Wayanad, Kerala, he said such incidents should serve as a warning for Kodagu, stressing the need to immediately curb hill cutting, large-scale concretisation and indiscriminate land conversion.
Describing Kodagu as the “Tibet of South India,” Nachappa expressed concern over what he termed encroachment of ecologically sensitive lands and the growing threat to the region’s water resources and environmental heritage.
He also demanded stringent action against alleged land mafia activities, black money investments, illegal land registrations and the practice of conducting property registrations outside Kodagu.
According to him, large stretches of coffee plantations, including around 2,400 acres in Siddapur extending towards Malma Kund, have been converted into mega resorts, villas and townships by outside investors. He alleged that these developments have caused extensive ecological damage.
Referring to the devastating floods that affected Kodagu in 2018 and the more recent disasters in Wayanad, Nachappa cautioned that similar calamities could recur in Kodagu unless environmentally sensitive areas are protected from unplanned development. He alleged that environmental degradation in the name of development has placed Kodagu’s natural heritage under severe stress. Citing the demolition of illegal resorts in Masinagudi by the Tamil Nadu Government following court orders, he urged the Karnataka Government to take similar action against unauthorised mega resorts and townships in Kodagu.
Nachappa further demanded legislation restricting homestay operations to indigenous Kodava people and local residents, and called for the cancellation of registrations of homestays allegedly operated by outsiders in violation of the original concept of homestays. He described Kodagu as a unique cultural landscape where every village possesses sacred sites and traditional Kodava heritage, but alleged that more than 3,000 mega resorts and townships are either operational or under construction across the district, fundamentally altering its ecological and cultural character.
He further alleged that extensive conversion of coffee plantations and agricultural land for commercial purposes is changing Kodagu’s demographic profile, topography, environment and cultural identity while shrinking the district’s coffee-growing area.
Quoting observations reportedly made by the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court regarding the decline in coffee plantations, Nachappa urged the Union Ministry of Commerce and the World Trade Organization to take note of the issue, stating that Kodagu contributes a significant share of India’s coffee production and foreign exchange earnings.
He also demanded that areas above 900 metres elevation be declared ‘No Building Zones’ on the lines of the Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committee recommendations. Among other demands, he called for investigations into land registrations conducted outside Kodagu during the past five years, mandatory GPS tagging and video recording of land registrations, action against officials involved in irregular registrations, and a temporary ban on the purchase of land in Kodagu by non-residents.
A memorandum containing these demands was submitted through Additional District Magistrate Dr. Sahana S. Hadimani to the Government of India, Government of Karnataka, the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court, the World Trade Organization, the Union Ministry of Commerce, the Union Ministry of Water Resources and other concerned authorities.
Several CNC members and supporters, including Swati Kalappa, Savita Girish, Jyoti Nanaiah, Leelavati, Kush, Ravi Subbaiah, Lokesh, Girish Thimmaiah, Manoj Mandanna, Janath Kumar, Girish Bottangada, Pemmaiah, Kiriamada Sherin, Katumaniyanda Umesh, PulleraKalappa, Manavattira Chinnappa, Medhura Kanthi Naniyappa, Koopadira Sabu, Palekanda Pradhan Poonacha, Tolanda Somayya, Koothanda Roshan, Manavattira Swaroop, Manavattira Nanda, Chaundira Bolliyappa, Aitichanda Poovaiah, Aylapanda Mittu, Avremadanda Naveen Monnappa, Azzinikanda Sunny Machaiyya, Cholapanda Nanaiah, Changada Chami Palangappa, Katumanianda Layer, Avremadanda Chengappa and Alamanda Nehru participated in the satyagraha.
