Mysuru: Opposition to the proposed two railway lines to Mysuru via the ecologically sensitive Kodagu district (Thalassery-Mysuru via South Kodagu and Hunsur-Periyapatna-Kushalnagar-Madikeri-Mangaluru) is gaining momentum with Kodagu-Mysuru MP Pratap Simha tweeting to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal not to give approval for the project.

Attaching a Star of Mysore report in his tweet, “Centre  gives nod for Thalassery-Mysuru Railway line via South Kodagu,” Pratap Simha has tweeted to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and has urged him not to approve the project.

Dear @RailMinIndia @PiyushGoyal ji, pls don’t approve Thalaserry-Mysuru railway line via “South Kodagu” by yielding2 the pressure of Kerala govt n present Karnataka govt. If you touch South Kodagu, it will be the death knell to Cauvery river. Will come n explain u.Don’t approve. pic.twitter.com/uuH83g6u2t

— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) January 17, 2018

His tweet read: “Dear Piyush Goyalji, Please don’t approve Thalassery-Mysuru Railway Line via South Kodagu by yielding to the pressure of Kerala Government and present Karnataka Government.  If you touch South Kodagu, it will be the death knell for River Cauvery. Will come and explain to you. Don’t approve.”

In another tweet, Senior Congress Spokesperson Advocate Brijesh Kalappa has said that the destruction of forests in the name of development must stop.

His tweet read: “Enough is enough!! No political activity can justify the rape of pristine forests, evergreen jungles and wildlife habitats.

Enough is Enough!! No political activity can justify the rape of pristine forests, evergreen jungles and wildlife habitats.

Every single Coorg will stand as one and oppose this gargantuan tragedy in waiting!!

— Brijesh Kalappa (@brijeshkalappa) January 17, 2018

Every single Coorg will stand as one and oppose this gargantuan tragedy in waiting!!”

The Union Government has accorded in-principle approval to the Thalassery-Mysuru rail line project at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,052 crore.