Coorg wildlife society opposes eco-damaging projects in Kodagu

Madikeri: Coorg Wildlife Society president Kunjangada Bose Madappa on Wednesday said there is no need for development projects that would damage Kodagu district.

He stated that the association strongly opposes environmental destruction linked to the proposed Kadamkal-Subrahmanya road, proposed railway project, land conversion and unregulated tourism.

Speaking to reporters, he said Kodagu is a small district with exceptional geographical beauty and a fragile ecology already affected by development pressures, natural disasters, human-animal conflict, climate change and reckless tourism, resulting in land and nature degradation.

Referring to Madikeri MLA Manthar Gowda’s earlier move in the House seeking approval and funds for the Kadamkal-Subrahmanya road, Madappa argued that raising such a proposal misleads the public because there is no legal provision to build a road through a wildlife sanctuary. He warned that cutting through the Pushpagiri hill range, described as one of Kodagu’s most fragile geographical structures, would be dangerous, especially as the region has not fully recovered from the 2018 disaster and could invite another calamity. He urged legislators to drop projects that damage the environment and focus on alternative forms of development.

Madappa said the association does not oppose tourism but stated that 40-50 lakh tourists visit the district annually, overwhelming Kodagu’s delicate environment. He pointed to poor cleanliness, lack of basic facilities and unmanaged waste at tourist sites, citing Irpu Falls, where littering has turned the area into a dumping ground. He said authorities should first ensure facilities and waste management before promoting tourism and suggested controlled tourism measures such as “green passes,” similar to systems used in places like Ooty.

He also alleged widespread illegal land conversion, with coffee estates and paddy fields being turned into tourism “fun destinations,” and said many homestays operate without permissions or local coordination. He demanded strict action by the district administration and police to curb illegal conversions and unauthorised homestays. Coorg Wildlife Society secretary Chendanda P Aiyappa and joint secretary Karthamada Naveen Bopaiah were present.