‘GREATER TALACAUVERY PROJECT’ INVITES CONTROVERCY;

Madikeri September 26, 2006

The proposed ‘Greater Talacauvery Project’ to link the three protected forests in the district is dividing people with controversy. While residents of certain villages and politicians are raising hue and cry about it, the environmentalists are shouting that it should be implemented.

The groups of environmentalists from Wild Life First, Coorg Wild Life Society including Air Marshal Cariappa had demanded that All the protected forests be linked and had submitted memorandum to the then Chief Minister S.M.Krishna. The state and central governments later took a decision to launch this project. While papers are being built to implement this project, controversy is brewing within the district.

Kodagu has three protected forests including Rajiv Gandhi national park. This covers about 38,855 hectares of land altogether. Forming of ‘Greater Tala Cauvery’ project will have about 81,214 hectares of land under protection. The groups opposing this move claim that many villages will also fall under stringent forest act and they will lose land and freedom. They also claim that the number of wild life will also increase considerably, doubling the menace in the district. Already, people of Kodagu are living under constant threat from wild life attacks on property and life.

Convenor of the NAWICOD organization, retired RFO Chinnappa termed the controvercy as a bogus cry from bogus politicians. He said that the district will be benefited by this project.

MLA K.G.Bopaiah said that he will fight against the implementation. MLA H.D.basavaraju also said that he will oppose the project and join hands with Bopaiah. MLC Arun Machaiah said that the governments cannot push people into darkness about these projects and they should discuss the issue openly with people before implementing it. He stated that the people were kept in dark during the formation of Rajiv Gandhi national park proposal. And today people are suffering from its impact.

FREEDOM FIGHTER DIES;

The 94 year old freedom fighter, Mallenga Chengappa died in a private hospital yesterday.

Chengappa had taken part in famous Dandi March along with Mahatma Gandhi and was jailed several times by British during freedom fighting. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Kodagu during 1934. He leves wife Seethamma, two sons and a daughter.

TEERTODBHAVA AT 2.34 A.M;

The famous teertodbava at Talacauvery will take place at 2.34 a.m on 18 October, according to official communiqué.

The deputy commissioner is holding a special meeting today to discuss the arrangements to be made for the Teertodbava. Thousands of devotees will throng the temple town to take a holy dip from Kerala, tamilanadu and other places, including Karnataka.

KAILPOLDH CELEBRATED AT MUSCAT;

The Kodava community of Muscat joined hands for a get together on the occasion of ‘Kailpoldh’ yesterday. ‘Kailpoldh’ or ‘Kail Muhurtha’ is a festival celebrated by Kodavas in the first week of September every year. The event marks the end of transplanting in the paddy fields. Worship, use of arms and rededication to the cause of the land are the important aspects of the festival.

The function that began at 11 am went on till 6 pm. Like always, there was enough fun and frolic for the young and old alike. Following are some snapshots of the event.

Picture: The function began with an invocation by ladies.

Picture: Women performing "Ummathat", a dance mixture of folklore with a dainty touch of medieval and modernity.

Picture: A cross-section of the audience.