The allure of rolling hills covered in mist, verdant forests where green stretches to the horizon, and proximity to major cities of the State may be undoing Kodagu district and its important role in protecting the Cauvery river.

Right to Information requests by the Save River Cauvery Foundation — comprising prominent activists from Kodagu district — has shown that over the past decade, over 3,000 acres of agricultural land has been converted for commercial or housing purposes.

Of this, 2,797.4 acres have been converted for commercial purposes, signifying the growth of resorts, hotels as well as gated communities and villa projects in the small district. The RTI shows that commercial purposes have seen lands as much as 66 acres being converted at one go. “Housing for the locals is a very small number. Instead, we have mass conversions to cater to the tourist population or gated villa projects. These happen in slopes as well as valleys, which contribute to the growth of Cauvery,” said C.P Muthanna, president of Coorg Wildlife Society (CWS).

With Kodagu contributing 70 per cent of inflow to the KRS dam, he believed legislative action was needed to protect the district. “Tourism into Kodagu must be regulated. The district population is just 6 lakh, but tourist inflow is nearly 13 lakh. This has put a lot of stress on water supply and infrastructure. The destruction is clear, and yet the government encourages more tourists,” he said. The forum has instead demanded curtailing of tourism subsidies for the region, while also keeping on hold any request for land conversion.

Similarly, with sand extraction in the district becoming rampant to provide for the construction boom in Bengaluru, writer Devika Devaiah said State policy must view Kodagu as a “water tank” for the State and ensure its protection.

The district has also seen stress from infrastructural projects. Last year, over 55,000 trees were cut for a 400kV Mysuru-Kozhikode power line. This year, Kodagu is seeing movement in the proposal for a new railway line from Mysuru to Madikeri, while proposals to widen the highways in the district are being considered.