Gonikoppa (Kodagu):  Strongly condemning the Mysuru-Thalassery railway line passing through Kodagu, the Railu Marga Virodhi Samiti will stage a massive demonstration in front of the office of the South Western Railway in Mysuru on Feb.18.

Addressing a meeting at Ponnampet Kodava Samaja building on Saturday, Samiti Convenor Col. Muthanna said that the implementation of the Railway project will destroy the rich vegetation and forest wealth of Kodagu, besides posing a  grave threat to Cauvery river and the eco-system.

Maintaining that elected representatives of Kerala were exerting pressure on the Centre to implement the Railway project, he said that the project will be an ecological disaster and as such, the people of Kodagu should brace themselves for launching a massive movement to stall the railway line. He said that the Samiti was discussing the legal options too for stalling the railway line.

Ponnampet Kodava Samaja President Rajiv Bopaiah, in his address, alleged that people of Kodagu were being misled, with the authorities assuring on higher coffee and pepper prices. Strongly opposing the project, he declared that Ponnampet Kodava Samaja will spearhead the Movement against the Railway line.

Samiti’s Machimada Ravindra said that the people of Kodagu have learnt a lot from the agitation against High Tension power line.

Calling upon the people to oppose any project that destroys the ecological balance of the district, he said that the railway line was more harmful than its usefulness.

Underlining the need to take up projects that are only development-oriented, he alleged that the Kerala Lobby had exerted pressure on the Centre to implement the project.

UCO Convenor Kokkalemada Manju alleged that the Kerala Govt. was exerting pressure on the Centre to execute Mysuru-Thalassery Railway line only to meet its selfish ends and to destroy the rich natural wealth of Kodagu. He called upon the people to be wary of the designs to mislead the people by giving false assurances on the project.