Samiti opposes projects in Western Ghats

Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, Malenadu Janti Kriya SamithiCommittee President Pradeep Kumar K L said The Greater Talacauvery project is nothing but interlinking of all the protected areas namely Brahmagiri, Talacauvery, Pushpagiri sanctuaries and all other reserve forests which come under it.

“The interlinking of all the protected areas will pose threat to the existence of the 120 revenue villages in five districts and 14 taluks. If the projects are implemented, then community rights would be taken away from the traditional dwellers. The interlinking of all the reserve forests would cover 8,000 sq mts. Jamma, Baane, Kaana, Baana rights would be taken away by the government. The community rights have been guaranteed to the tribals residing in the forest by the Constitution. The project will also affect the culture and traditional of these tribals who would be displaced from their original habitat,” he said
 “In the name of development 50 to 70 small and major dams have been constructed across Kempuhole, Addahole and Gundya projects and several age old trees have been cut. The revenue villages which are situated adjacent to forests in Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Sullia, Puttur, Belthangady, Sakleshpura, Aloor, Sringeri, N R Pura, Udupi, Karkala, Kundapura, Theerthahalli, Soraba, Sirsi, Dandeli, Haliyala would be affected with the proposed project,” he opined .

He added that the project swould curtail the powers of the people to own arms under Arms Rights Act.

“In the name of promotion of tourism and development, the government is giving permission to restaurants, cottages and resorts inside the reserve forest. However, it is not allowing the traditional dwellers to continue to live peacefully,” he said.