By P.T. Bopanna
The micro-minority Kodava (Coorg) community in Kodagu district of Karnataka is upset after a KERALA-BORN spiritual leader bought around 70 acres of land near Padi Igguthappa temple, considered sacred by the Kodavas.
The temple is located in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, and is dedicated to the God of rain and harvests. The temple is centric to Kodava culture and the community looks to the temple for guidance on matters of rituals and the celebration of festivals.
The local villagers are apprehensive that a large commercial project which is not plantation based could come up on the land and cause damage to the ecology of the area.
The land located in Nelaji village was bought by the spiritual leader from local Kodava families, totalling 71.60 acres, and the properties have been registered in the name of the spiritual leader.
Environmentalists are worried that the since the area is sloping and is a high rainfall area, the hills may not be able to carry the weight of the structures which may come up, and that during an especially heavy monsoon there could be a landslide the likes of which we saw in 2018.
There is a possibility that if the commercial project drills borewells, the water supply of the areas downhill may be affected. Besides which, the ancient path used by devotees of Padi Igguthoppa to reach the top of Malma hill for ritual purposes, could be obstructed by the project.
The local villagers held a meeting recently which was attended by the Akhila Kodava Samaja office-bearers. The meeting decided to file objections before the grama panchayats to prevent conversion of land for non-agricultural purposes and also to approach the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner and State Revenue Secretary.
As there is a possibility of a law and order problem arising out of the land purchase by the spiritual guru, the Kodagu DC and SP should visit the spot and take remedial measures.
