Kodagu is drowning; humanity should be saving grace
Kodagu is always in news for two main reasons. One, for its demand of wanting to be a separate state. The other reasons is its flood situation. Assumedly, there is a strong enough reason for demanding the region to go separate as a state, owing to the fact that our politicians and governments have ignored the region. There is a lot of truth to this. But some vested interests have been stumbling blocks in the road to Kodagu’s development. There is a close link to Kodagu’s development and its flood situation. The flood waters that fill Kodagu to the brim, have been pushing the district into distress time and again.
Kodavas have a few contentious issues with the people of Mandya since the latter gets water only if it rains in Kodagu. But it causes extreme damage to life and property in the hilly region. Kodavas feel the government isn’t paying much attention to the loss and damages. This is true as well. Every monsoon is mostly brings some bad news for Kodagu. The elected representatives have not been able to work on a solution for the situation Kodagu is facing year after year. Just as things get out of hand with rising water levels, state government sets up gruel camps and then declares relief to people who have suffered the loss. People who have lost their property, have to run from pillar to post for years on to get the compensation. This amount or message never reaches those people who are at the end of the literacy chain. There could be an elephant of a relief, but those who cannot access this may not even get the last strand of hair of the tail of this mammoth.
After almost two decades, Kodagu is reeling under the floods again. The district has turned into an island. Villages have lost connectivity with the rest of the world. Kodagu is a place with hills and mountains, and the natural habitat of people is also those homes they have built on top of the mountains. Homes suffer massive damages when landslides occur. Kodagu is not limited to Madikeri in its identity. People live in the most remote areas of this region. If they are in danger, there is no way that help can reach them. Army has been pressed into service, but since the approach roads have disappeared; even this help cannot reach them.
Most disheartening fact is the remainder of Paddy crop is lost in this deluge. Kodagu is known for its coffee, cardamom, oranges and paddy. Kodagu’s most famous Huttari festival is a celebration around paddy crop. With loss to paddy, farmers are shifting towards
growing ginger in the recent years. They either grow themselves or lease out the lands to other ginger growers. Some people are using the lands for commercial activities.
The paddy growers have to battle with fruit rot or fungal infection of the crop year after year. But this year, the deluge as consumed their hardwork. Balele of Kodagu is known as the paddy bowl. Six villages of this region are under water now. Last time, the farmers of Balele had suffered major losses. This time floods have finished their all sorts of commercial and income generating activities. Kodagu is suffering big time.
The situation of adivasis in Kodagu is of different kind. They are labourers and they have lost their livelihood owing to this deluge. Their huts have been destroyed. Government officers and staff may not even be able to track or reach them. As it is, they were the ignored lot. This has worsened the situation much. How can these people who are invisible to the eyes of the government even be significant to be rescued?
One of the major reasons for damage this time are massive landslides. Mountains have slid off into oblivion. From Medenadu to Sampaje, hills are sliding off. This is the main reason for the loss of connecting roads to reach relief supplies and rescue operations. This is not merely a natural disaster. The interference of human activity that has taken Kodagu and its ecospace for granted has been served its due. Roads, homes, cutting down of forests and digging the strong soil in the name of construction and development, has caused this deluge.
Vidhana Soudha has to come to Kodagu now. CM has to reach this place and stay here till the relief operations are in full swing. This is a major test for Kodagu residents too.
They have to hold one others’ hands to stay safe and help each other. Karnataka must stand by Kodagu to show solidarity. Only humanity can save Kodagu now. This is a challenge the humanity has put before us. Let us emerge victorious in this.
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Gautam Singhania injured, 2 Indians missing in speedboat accident in Maldives
Male (PTI): Raymond Group Chairman & Managing Director Gautam Hari Singhania has sustained injuries, while two Indian nationals are reported missing after a speedboat capsized near Felidhoo island in the Maldives, according to local media reports.
There were seven people on board at the time of the incident near Vaavu atoll early Friday morning. Two women – a British national and a Russian national - and five Indian men were on board, the Edition.mv reported.
Police said five people fell into the sea when the vessel overturned, including the Russian woman and four Indian men.
Singhania, 60, who was among the tourists, has been rescued.
Citing police, news portal Adhadhu reported that he sustained minor injuries in the accident. He was discharged from the hospital after treatment, it added.
"The two missing persons are Indian nationals," police said, adding that search operations are on.
"The speedboat belongs to his yacht, TT Ashena. The Maldivian Coast Guard is still looking for two people who went missing in the accident," Adhadhu reported.
Citing sources, it said that the vessel involved in the accident was a Cigarette racing boat designed to be driven at high speeds.
Maldives National Defence Force's Male Area Command Coast Guard Second Squadron is searching for the missing individuals. The incident occurred about two nautical miles southwest of Keyodhoo, MNDF said.
