Virajpet: The Codava National Council (CNC) organised a peaceful human chain demonstration at Kadanga Junction on December 4, calling for urgent measures to curb the encroachment and exploitation of Codavaland.
The protest, led by CNC President N.U. Nachappa, alleged the destructive impact of external corporate investments, land-grabbing, and unchecked commercialisation on the region's cultural and ecological heritage in Kodagu district.
The CNC has demanded the dismantling of resorts and villas built by outside corporate entities and the nullification of farmland conversions for commercial purposes. The Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 2020, was criticised for enabling such exploitation, with allegations that land in Codavaland has been acquired covertly by bureaucrats, economic offenders, and politicians, Nachappa alleged.
Nachappa warned that sacred sites and natural resources, such as Mae Thireke hillocks, Chomakundh of Kadiyathnaad, and Beppnaad, are under threat. "The region's pristine beauty is being destroyed, jeopardising Codava cultural and ecological heritage," he said.
The CNC alleges that economic offenders have invested in land for mega-townships, large-scale deforestation, quarrying, and dam-related activities are worsening the ecological balance, risking disasters similar to the recent Wayanad landslides.
The CNC reiterated its demand for Codavaland's geopolitical autonomy, Scheduled Tribe status, and stronger land protections to preserve the region's cultural identity and ecological balance. The council also called for an investigation into illegal land dealings and deforestation, urging immediate action to prevent further damage.
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