Environmentalists and residents of Kodagu are bracing for a renewed struggle against the Mysuru-Kushalnagar railway project which has received fresh traction. Though the project elicited a widespread opposition from the people of Kodagu on the grounds that it was environmentally inimical and led to mass protests even in Mysuru, Pratap Simha, Mysuru MP, is batting for it and this has evoked strong criticism from activists. Mr. Simha wrote to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal last week stating that the first phase of the project from Mysuru to Kushalnagar had not made much headway. NGOs and environmentalists will rally again to oppose the project as part of the ‘Save Kodagu-Save Cauvery’ campaign. The CWS said two railway projects are being sought to be pushed through Kodagu – the other being the Thalassery-Mysuru railway line – and a few national highways which will spell doom to the Cauvery catchment area.

Source: The Hindu June 30, 2019 19:18 UTC