Kodagu district commissioner warns of Uttarakhand type of disaster and Government throws it into the dustbin!

Well post the devastating floods,water blasts,landslips and landslides the people of the affected regions of the district are now busy trying to overcome the plight unheard of in their lifetime.But on the other hand it looks very few people are aware of the hard core fact that a Deputy Commissioner of the district had warned of a severe catastrophe similar to the one that occurred in the hilly Uttharkhand state and the state government officials and those occupying political power thought it wise to throw it into the waste paper box!
Yes it may appear strange and intriguing but it's ultimately a fact which people of the district should ponder over now at least to ensure that such a misery is not heaped upon them ever again. Anees Ahmed happened to be the district collector of the district during 2015 and it was during this period he submitted a report to the Revenue Secretary listing out the forthcoming dangers in the eventuality of no corrective measures being initiated.
Col. Muthanna,president of the Coorg Wildlife Society revealed this information to Hindusthan Samachar when he was inquired with the governmental efforts in conserving the Eco sensitive forest regions.But in spite of the warning report the government practically did nothing.Such is the bureaucratic lethargy over vital issues like protecting the environment, property and lives of the people.
He has been the president of the Coorg Wildlife Society since past 12 years.The voluntary organisation was founded by retired Brigader CM Cariyappa with the sole objective of protecting and conserving wildlife,since illegal hunting spree was a big menace then.But now along with protecting and conserving wildlife the NGO is also involved in protecting landscape of the district.

As per official statistics about 70 percent of the water flow to Krishna Raj Sagar(KRS) dam in Mandya district near Mysuru originates from Kodagu district.The extent of forest land on papers happens to be 32 percent while that of the coffee estates constitute 30 percent.A vague assumption of forest variety trees in these coffee plantations a couple of decades was estimated to be 300 mature trees per hectare.

Other than these tracts of land distribution about 10-12 percent of land holdings happen to be paddy fields which will be wet lands holding huge quantity of water for at least four months in a year.The district spread across 4,108 square kilometres boasting of such paddy fields also contribute about 60 lakh cubic litres of  water which also acts as a deep water surface for the water streams.

Col Muthanna looks a sad man when he admits: Kodagu no doubt is a rich district in terms of biodiversity but is also very fragile and beyond a point if there's disturbance it could be a big collapse and this has been proved by the recent calamity.

He opines:Due to caving of hillocks the fertile soil has been submerged while the surface layers have been covered with acidic soil.And to make it fertile and fit for cultivation no one can assure you on the period it may take and it's no easy task also.

In the given circumstances he says that it's high time for a study to be carried out for a moratorium on new resorts and existingfacilities.In fact the Coorg Wildlife Society has been consistently putting forth various suggestions in the overall interest of the people and environs of the district.But going by his experience it appears not much has changed in the government circles over initiating proper action,Perhaps that's the biggest problem now entangled with the state administration!

-Manohar Yadavatti

 

blog handled by Infinity Techsyst Dharwad,Karnataka,India