Don't take up rail projects in Kodagu, state writes to Centre

The state government has written the Central government against implementing railway projectsin Kodagu district.

"Implementation of railway projects in Kodagu district affects environment. The state government has written a letter to the Central government against taking up railway projects in the district," Kodagu district in-charge minister M R Seetharam said at the 59th anniversary of Karnataka Planters' Association (KPA) here on Friday.

The government was framing policies to protect interests of coffee and pepper growers in Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Sakaleshpur areas, he said.

M M Chengappa, president, KPA, requested the government not to expand rail and road networks in the district as it would affect environment.

"The government should ban import of pepper seeds from SAARC nations as it is affecting pepper growers in the district. The government should take measures to protect interests of minor coffee planters," he urged.

Conflict between man and wild animals was increasing in the region. As many as 62 elephants had been safely sent back to the forest in 2017, he said.

Rajya Sabha member M V Rajeev Gowda said that collective efforts were needed to tackle changing weather pattern that had affected Western Ghats and coastal regions of the state.