Mysore/Mysuru: The Codava National Council (CNC) has urgently called upon the authorities to halt the development of sprawling villas, townships and residential plots by converting 2,400 acres of coffee estate with huge trees and green cover in the Cauvery catchment area of Siddapur in Kodagu.

Expressing concern in a memorandum to the President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister and Secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, CNC President N.U. Nachappa highlighted the acquisition of coffee estate at a significantly low cost, followed by plans to transform the land into residential areas. This move has garnered considerable interest from investors and settlers from outside the region.

Nachappa criticised the motives of certain groups determined to obliterate 2,400 acres of vital green cover in a critical catchment area, stressing that such actions could devastate the entire local ecosystem. Furthermore, the influx of human traffic resulting from these developments would exacerbate resource scarcity.

The proposed transformation poses a severe threat to the ethno-cultural fabric of the district, endangering social harmony and demographic diversity. It would disrupt the delicate geo-physical balance, peace and tranquillity of the region.

Emphasising the magnitude of the issue, he pointed out the ambitious plan to accommodate over five lakh individuals from outside Kodagu, foreseeing the irreversible destruction of the fertile catchment areas of River Cauvery. 

The relentless construction of villas, residential plots and townships would inevitably engulf the Cauvery and its tributary streams, waterfalls and rivulets, exacting a heavy toll on future generations, he noted. 

An array of jungle species

The 2,400 acres of land in question harbour an incredible array of jungle species, including some of the rarest wild animals and birds. This expanse falls within the Mavukall-Maldare Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled within the Nagarahole National Park range of the Eco-Sensitive Zone.

Additionally, 300 acres are part of the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Paadinaad, a site recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

This land is not only ecologically significant but also serves as a critical water source for River Cauvery, with over 100 perennial spring water points originating from its depths. Commercialising this land would spell disaster for this delicate ecosystem, leading to the destruction of invaluable habitats and the disruption of vital water sources, he added. 

A decade ago, an educational entrepreneur from Bengaluru acquired over 300 acres of untouched land near the revered shrine of Lord Igguthappa in Naladi village, nestled within the hillocks of Tadiyandamol in the Western Ghats section of Madikeri taluk. This pristine land, situated near the origin of the perennial springs of the Cauvery’s tributary, the Kakkabbe River, is now slated for conversion into villas and residential plots. This alarming trend must be halted without delay, Nachappa added. 

Similar to Bengaluru

The encroachment and conversion of Raja Kaluve (storm water drains) into residential plots across Bengaluru have resulted in the degradation of its water sources, leading to the demise of rivers like Arkavathi, Kumdavathi and Kanva. 

Similarly, in Kodagu, the imminent threat looms large as the proposed construction of villas, residential plots and townships encroach upon the catchment areas of the Cauvery and its perennial streams, waterfalls and rivulets. 

If left unchecked, these developments will irreversibly alter the landscape, depriving future generations of vital natural resources and imposing a heavy burden on their shoulders, Nachappa noted.