By K K Aiyamma
Firstly let me Congratulate the Voters in Coorg for choosing Pratap Simha and Simha for winning. Coorg saw a 71.94 % turnout during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections and I am sure most of the votes from Coorg went to Pratap’s kitty. The Narendra Modi Govt has won this election on the development plank. Simha understands that Coorg requires infrastructure development and he has been quite vocal about it. But, I think he is on the “wrong track”.
The “main” issue when it comes to “infrastructure” and that I have noticed time and again is – Coorg lacking “Good roads”. And by Good Roads I am not talking about the roads connecting Coorg from Mysore or Kerala, but roads to every nook and corner in Coorg.
On June 6, Simha solicited suggestion on twitter, asking if the Mysore-Kodagu road should be upgraded to National Highway. My reply as mentioned in the twitter grab was “NO”. Charity begins at home, so develop roads in Coorg first.
By June 8, the road talk had vanished from the picture and Simha was pushing for Mysore – Kushalnagar railway line. This even after a survey report stating that the railway line is not feasible. I am happy to note that I am not alone in my ” Good Roads” would be enough, request.
Really? is this what we need, a railway to Coorg. Why don’t you just fix the roads, will be more than enough…. https://t.co/f4692tc5ZZ
— MA Deviah (@deviah) June 9, 2014
Simha is surely moving fast with the development agenda. By June 9th, he tweeted the following;
Met the railway minister @DVSBJP n submitted d proposal for Mys-Kushnr-Coorg train. Now the onus is on Krn govt2 bear half expenses 1/2
— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) June 9, 2014
Coming to the point – I firmly believe that Coorg does NOT need a railway line criss-crossing its landscape. Good Roads in Coorg and upgrading the roads connecting Coorg from Mysore and Kerala will do just fine.
Good News – Virajpet – Gonikoppa Road completed – https://t.co/lMdcnJVn6X Bad News Hunsur to Coorg is still hopeless https://t.co/5EMJVRY14u — Aiyamma (@kkaiyamma) June 5, 2014
But it seems Simha is more interested in flagging off a train to Coorg.
We are into hospitality business. We will definitely have more tourists to Coorg if we have trains. But let’s not make Coorg another Utharkand. I feel the region can’t sustain a sudden development unless its sustainable and aligned with the ecosystem. Let’s not forget, Coorg hasn’t seen much rain in June this year — climate change already ?
Those who doesn’t want railway line, they must travel from Banglore to Virapet during late night.
Kushalnagara road is quite best compared to Gonikoppal road, But It is regtratable that all the raid/rail projects are on the developed area, not on underdeveloped one. Bloody project leads.
Pramod, once a railway line reaches Kushalnagar, it will definitely make its way to Kerala through Coorg’s already depleted forests. This will reduce the rain attracting and water retention capacity of the forests which feed Mysore and Bangalore. Railway stations, staff quarters, other infrastructure will take away green cover and put a burden on water supply. Coorg’s ecology cannot handle it, it is not robust enough. Step back and notice how every political leader works against the ecology and against local sentiments. Ask why.
A rail link from Mysore to Kushalnagar is absolutely essential coz for one it will ease the burden on the road network and will ensure faster connectivity to Mysore & Bangalore.Secondly the land required for a railway line is far lesser than a 4 lane highway.