Peaceful Satyagraha to halt eco-sensitive zone conversions in Kodagu

The Satyagraha highlights concerns over the detrimental impact of converting these lands into Gigantic Villas, Mega townships, and house sites.

Madikeri: In a resolute stand against the conversion of vital eco-sensitive zones in Kodagu, a peaceful Satyagraha was conducted under the leadership of N. U. Nachappa, President of the Codava National Council (CNC), near the Deputy Commissioner’s Office on 10 May 2024. 

The protest, joined by CNC volunteers, aimed to pressure authorities to halt the conversion of 2400 acres of BBTC Coffee Gardens in the Cauvery catchment area and 300 acres in the UNESCO World Heritage site beneath Thadiyandamol.

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The Satyagraha highlights concerns over the detrimental impact of converting these lands into Gigantic Villas, Mega townships, and house sites. Such conversions, spearheaded by outsider corporate houses, threaten to divert and destroy vital watersheds and streams, crucial for the perennial source of River Cauvery. Each hamlet and village in the Codava territory is endowed with natural watersheds and streams, which are now under threat due to these developments.

The Codava community, deeply rooted in nature worship, has reverentially protected their lands and water sources. However, the onslaught of resort magnets and land mafias has led to the excavation of hills, mountains, and water points, endangering the ecological balance and the unique tribal ethos of the Codavas.

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The Satyagraha underscores the urgent need for the recognition and respect of Codava's internal political self-determination rights. It calls for autonomy and self-rule, enshrined in the international law for indigenous peoples' rights and the Constitution of India, within the suzerainty of Karnataka.

The protest also sheds light on the alarming trend of large-scale land acquisitions by outsiders, leading to demographic shifts and ecological imbalances. The recent sale of BBTC Coffee Gardens to a resort magnate at an exorbitant rate, followed by its conversion into house sites, exemplifies the exploitation of Codava lands for commercial gain.

The Satyagraha's demands include stringent legal actions against those involved in illegal land conversions, protection of eco-sensitive zones, and the preservation of Codava's cultural and ecological heritage. The protest signifies a unified stand against the degradation of Codava's ancestral lands and the preservation of their identity and existence.

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