Bengaluru: An online petition protesting the new railway line proposed between Mysuru and Kodagu has gained over 13,000 signatories. Addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah among others, the petition warns the project could mean axing of lakhs of trees and also pose a threat to the river Cauvery, a source of water for the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The petition, "Stop the railway line to Coorg, save river Cauvery and your drinking water," posted in response to the Union railway ministry’s announcement of the rail line for the hilly region early this year , claims the mega project could destroy the green cover of the ecologically sensitive area.
"Every tree holds 30,000 to 40,000 litres of water, its roots release water underground to form tiny streams, and its leaves give off moisture into the air to create humidity that invites rain from passing clouds. But the sad truth is that already lakhs of trees have been cut for various so called developmental projects. Four new species of trees were added to the list that can be cut for timber. This has caused a further loss of trees within the last year," it protests.
While the Union railway ministry hopes the railway connectivity will improve tourism in the region, the people of Kodagu say they have already too many resorts and home stays, which have resulted in stinking piles of garbage lining their roads.
Dismissing the ministry's argument that the new rail connectivity will also help coffee growers transport coffee seeds by train to the Mangaluru port, the petitioners point out that they are already being dispatched by road, quite efficiently and economically. The locals also fear that once the railway line is built, additional tracks will be laid, destroying more trees.
"I don't want my land to be destroyed in the name of development. Our people never asked for a train or a highway. We are blessed to be born in Coorg. We like our homeland the way it is. Please save our trees," pleads one supporter of the online petition.
