<p>Environmentalists have expressed their objection to the four-laning of Mysuru-Bantwal National Highway 275 passing through Kodagu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The greens fear that the project will be a threat to the rich flora and fauna of Kodagu. </p>.<p class="bodytext">A forum with the name ‘Kodagu Maaraka Yojane Virodhi Samiti’ has also come into existence to oppose the project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">MP Pratap Simha had informed that a special officer and a supervising engineer have been appointed for the land acquisition and road widening respectively.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An exclusive office towards the project will be inaugurated on December 10 and all works are on for implementing the project, amid stiff opposition from the local residents.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kodagu Wildlife Association president C P Muttanna said that the upgrading of the road from Ilavala (Mysuru)-Hunsur-Piriyapattanna-Kushalnagar-Madikeri will result in the destruction of hills along the stretch.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The coffee plantations will vanish and the massive deforestation will leave drastic impacts on the climate of the district. Landslides are likely to occur,” he said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">He further said that a small district like Kodagu would not withstand the threat of too many development projects. In fact, 5,400 trees were felled for the Mysuru-Kozhikode 400 KV high tension power line in 2015. Since then, the district had been witnessing either excess rain or drought like-situation, said Muttanna.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Elephant-human conflict is also on the rise. Therefore, the projects which are detrimental to the environment should be shelved. The norms say that the road can be upgraded to four-lane only if there is a daily traffic of 10,000 vehicles per day. But the Madikeri-Kushalnagar Road does not have so much traffic. There is a hidden agenda behind the project. Currently, there is a 22 feet wide road in Madikeri, he added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The new project intends to widen the Kushalnagar-Suntikoppa Road to 220 feet and Suntikoppa-Madikeri Road to 140 feet. Wild animals will be affected by the implementation of the project and there are more disadvantages than advantages, said environmentalists.</p>
<p>Environmentalists have expressed their objection to the four-laning of Mysuru-Bantwal National Highway 275 passing through Kodagu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The greens fear that the project will be a threat to the rich flora and fauna of Kodagu. </p>.<p class="bodytext">A forum with the name ‘Kodagu Maaraka Yojane Virodhi Samiti’ has also come into existence to oppose the project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">MP Pratap Simha had informed that a special officer and a supervising engineer have been appointed for the land acquisition and road widening respectively.</p>.<p class="bodytext">An exclusive office towards the project will be inaugurated on December 10 and all works are on for implementing the project, amid stiff opposition from the local residents.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kodagu Wildlife Association president C P Muttanna said that the upgrading of the road from Ilavala (Mysuru)-Hunsur-Piriyapattanna-Kushalnagar-Madikeri will result in the destruction of hills along the stretch.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The coffee plantations will vanish and the massive deforestation will leave drastic impacts on the climate of the district. Landslides are likely to occur,” he said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">He further said that a small district like Kodagu would not withstand the threat of too many development projects. In fact, 5,400 trees were felled for the Mysuru-Kozhikode 400 KV high tension power line in 2015. Since then, the district had been witnessing either excess rain or drought like-situation, said Muttanna.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Elephant-human conflict is also on the rise. Therefore, the projects which are detrimental to the environment should be shelved. The norms say that the road can be upgraded to four-lane only if there is a daily traffic of 10,000 vehicles per day. But the Madikeri-Kushalnagar Road does not have so much traffic. There is a hidden agenda behind the project. Currently, there is a 22 feet wide road in Madikeri, he added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The new project intends to widen the Kushalnagar-Suntikoppa Road to 220 feet and Suntikoppa-Madikeri Road to 140 feet. Wild animals will be affected by the implementation of the project and there are more disadvantages than advantages, said environmentalists.</p>
