- Proposed highway to pass through Greater Talacauvery National Park and Reserve Forest
- Kasaragod MP raises question in Lok Sabha; Minister Nitin Gadkari cold-shoulders move
Kushalnagar: A new highway from Kerala to Talacauvery in Kodagu district, the birthplace of River Cauvery, has been proposed by the neighbouring State that will threaten the very existence of the river, the lifeline of people of Kodagu, Mysuru, Mandya and Bengaluru in Karnataka and most of Tamil Nadu.
The proposed road links Madayi Kavu in Kerala and Talacauvery via Pulingome. A question in this regard was raised by Kasaragod MP K.P. Rajmohan Unnithan in Lok Sabha on Dec. 2. The question was directed at Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
As per LS website, the MP asked, “Whether the Govt. has any plans to make the road stretch on Madayi Kavu-Pulingome-Talacauvery usable which passes through the States of Kerala and Karnataka to provide connectivity with Ezhimala Naval Academy and Peringome CRPF Camp. If so, the details thereof.”
An easy route for Kerala
Madayi Kavu is in Kannur district of Kerala and there is a famous Thiruvarkadu Bhagavathi Temple there and the distance to Pulingome is 42 kilometres. At present, to reach Talacauvery, people from Pulingome in Kerala travel over three hours (78 kilometres) via Thayyeni, Paramba, Malom, Kollichal, Balanthode, Panathur, Doddacheri, and Bhagamandala (in Kodagu).
If Madayi Kavu-Pulingome-Talacauvery Highway is constructed, it will be just a short drive from Pulingome via green belt of Talacauvery and this is the reason why the Kasaragod MP wants this to be a reality. At present, there is a mud road here and the forest is a part of Greater Talacauvery National Park.
While raising the issue in Lok Sabha, the Kasaragod MP has cleverly mentioned that the proposed new highway can connect Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kannur district and CRPF Camp at Peringome, also in Kannur district. But he has chosen to hide the fact that if at all the highway is constructed, it will cause irreparable damage to the reserve forests of the Western Ghats.
No such proposal: Minister
However, replying to the MP, Minister Nitin Gadkari has replied, “The Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways in the country. The Madayi Kavu-Pulingome-Talacauvery road is not part of the National Highways network. Presently, there is no proposal for the development of the above road stretch under any scheme in the Ministry.”
If at all the Madayi Kavu-Pulingome-Talacauvery highway is sanctioned, it will endanger the birthplace of River Cauvery and it will completely destroy the green belt, said environment groups. At present, there is an uneven mud road filled with boulders between Pulingome and Talacauvery via Mundroot on the Kerala border.
This road existed before the Greater Talacauvery National Park was announced and earlier, jeeps would travel on the road and now, the road is under the control of the Forest Department and any type of vehicle movement is banned here.
Relief to Greens
The Minister’s assurance has come as a relief to environmentalists who are resisting any new roads in the Greater Talacauvery National Park including the proposed road from Patti to Thodikana within the Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary near Talacauvery.
But they have cautioned the elected representatives and people of Karnataka to be wary of the neighbouring State’s designs. Kerala has been demanding the road for years and there was a proposal to lay a gas pipeline through the forests. As the entire green belt comes under the Greater Talacauvery National Park, these projects are not permitted, said green groups.
Always be careful about these Keralites , they are selfish people who thinks about their benefits only , they don’t care about other state people
The western ghats need to be protected against such activities. What is to be gained by this venture ? Just to save a few hours drive ? Or is it lucrative real estate prospecting the real motive behind such a move ? Politicians every where are not known for their truthfulness and will go to any extent if anything serves their vested interests.
One side of Ketala is Western Ghats and the other side is Arabian sea. As a part of great India, it has to cross Wedtern ghats to get connected with rest of India. It is clossng the roads connecting Kerala and rest of India and trying to isolate the state in the name of Enviornment.
Green areas as well as reserve forest areas are created to prevent human encroachment. They should remain completely free of human activity and development at all costs. Mankind has already done irreparable damage on the planet and India is no exception. Any attempt to violate green areas must be resisted at all costs. Everybody knows the dangers of road construction in sensitive areas such as Talacauvery and surrounding area.
It is good foresight on the part of hon’ble minister Nitin Gadkari tonot accept the proposed highway by Kerala.
People of Karnataka must rise up against this foolish idea of laying a road or railway line through the western ghats bio diversity area and the origin of the Cauvery river. This cannot be a unilateral decision of Kerala when the most affected would be the people of Karnataka and other neighbouring states who depend on the Cauvery waters. Centre must not bow down to Keralas pressure, who seem to care little about destroying the highly sensitive ecology of the Western Ghats.
This is a foolish idea, better to drop this idea.
Don’t spread hatred. People of Kerala or Govt of Kerala do not have any “agenda” as mentioned.
Kerala -TN border districts are getting all the attention (from industrial corridors, gas pipelines, railways, highways). Kerala’s extreme north districts like Kasaragod, Wayanad as well as Coorg etc lacks good infrastructure. Don’t block projects through fake propoganda.
Not necessary, destroy the forest and built the highway no need,
Hey posters
You are merely moaners. You are doomed as it is too late.
Think of how many millions India produces each year, and that includes Keralites.
Tough luck, and swallow this.
Let’s not poison our minds. Keralites are not aliens but they are our brethren. There are lakhs of Keralites who work in Kartaka. They work, live and pay taxes to Karnataka state. Are they not helping our State grow? The proposed highway could be more useful for them but it will also help grow Kodagu district. Now the tourists prefer Bangalore – Mysore – Wayanad -Ooty route. If there is proper road connectivity Kudagu can become part of this chain. Bangalore – Mysore – Coorg – Wayanad. There is no point in us being stubborn. Sustainable development is something which we should demand for. We should grab this opportunity to make Coorg a tourist hub.
In the interest of Coorg and Kodagu people I think we should support this plan.
Elected representatives be aware of any moves by Kerala. They are planning for Nanjangudu Nilambur railway line & now for Tellicherry- mysuru line which will destroy all natural resources. Now the highway. Always pouncing to open bandipur forest whole night. Always selfish. They want to enjoy at others expense. BECAREFUL BE AWARE. Any move is for their gain only.
To all the people commenting coorg should grab the opportunity to become tourist hub…have you even seen what tourists have done here…have sence before talking ..We need not destory forest to develop …Is Switzerland underdeveloped??
Better to leave the green belt as it is, not to disturb Kodagu and it’s well beings, This is the only place left for green hold in Karnataka. Moreover Kerala doesn’t need this for Karnataka benifit, it’s for their benifit.
Talking about Switzerland, and comparing it with Coorg is sheer nonsense.
There is no population explosion in Switzerland. But Coorg and India is adding one Australian population every 6 months-that is 25 millions of Indians born!
Keralites have swamped the Gulf States , from where they smuggle gold back to Kerala, and this illegal activity needs expansion into other states, They will increase house prices in Mysuru and Bengaluru with their ill-gotten smuggled wealth. Within a few years, the se Malayalees will outnumber local kannada population, establish their cultural centres, their communities, their schools and will not mingle with the local population and learn Kannada.
@sia. Keralites-Malayalees do not consider Kannadigas as their brethren, and hence you are talking crap.
Do not allow this influx of Malayalees, who are smugglers.
Kerala has more international airports than Karnataka. Why? To help as the above poster puts it gold smuggling from the Gulf States.
Agree, they want to move to less dense Mysuru, will not learn the language, and also agree will increase the house prices.
They are a menace. They are certainly not brethren to to Kannadigas.
@sia talks nonsense. I suspect he/she is a Malayalee.
You will not believe that they have swamped the more un-inhabited Newzealnd parts of the country, building up their own communities and ghettos, and in a few years , you will see that the New Zealanders-the Kiwis, will want to kick them out.
I am from Coorg(Kodagu) and we are not fans of chopping trees . a few years ago massive number of tees were cut down and forest was destroyed to lay hightension lines despite people protesting against it and now we reap it’s harvest with unpredictable weather conditions. We don’t want train tracks or any more deforestation and the charm of Kodagu is the greenery and don’t destroy it. And Kodagu is in Karnataka.
Kodagu is already a tourist hub. There are many things going on in Kodagu and lot of green cover is vanishing cos of that. I don’t thing this project is necessary, which will cost us most devastating environmental impacts in the western ghats.
Kodagu has seen green cover depletion already due to urbanisation and natural calamities. Now KL wants to further reduce it for their benefit as they don’t care a damn what happens to us.
Talking about reducing a mere 36 kms, they want to destroy nature. We do not hate you Keralites, but you got to think from your brains and not elsewhere while making proposals which will destroy well protected nature for centuries. And yes, we Kannadigas will stand together to ensure these attempts are shredded without any remorse.
No problem the road is mud but it’s in use from long back the local community don’t want anything extra don’t spoil in the name of development
Highway benefit only for highfly people and road building Agency