Coffee planters oppose dam across Bhadra river

The coffee growers of Karnataka have raised strong objections to the state government's proposal to build dams across the river Bhadra in Chikmagalur district.

They fear that some of the prime plantations will be submerged by the backwaters of the river and hence severely disrupt the functioning of the industry, which is already facing severe crises.

According to Karnataka Planters Association (KPA), which has objected to the proposal, about 10,000 acres of prime forest land and about 12,000 acres of coffee, areca, pepper and paddy fields will be completely submerged by the water of the Bhadra river.

"We fear that some of the prime coffee growing areas in the Bhadra belt will be totally lost. With this, even the workers and their families who work in these estates will lose their livelihood," said KPA chairman AL RM Nagappan.

It is said that Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL) plans to seek the Centre's approval for its Upper Bhadra Project. The project entails setting up of a number of dams on the river Bhadra at Magundi village in Chikmagalur district.

In this connection, Nagappan has urged chief minister N Dharam Singh to advise KNNL not to go ahead with the Upper Bhadra Project as it will cause environmental and socio-economic problems in the area.

In addition to the loss of coffee plantations and forest land in the Western Ghats, one of 18 'bio-sensitive ecological hotspots' in the world, may also be damaged along with wildlife it sustains. The Kalasa and Hornad regions, which are considered a prime cultural centre in the Malnad belt, will also be lost, says Nagappan.

Speaking at the 47the annual conference of the KPA here, he said that there has already been substantial damage to coffee gardens due to infestation by the white stem borer. It will take nearly five to six years for a coffee grower to bring his estate back to shape. This will require a huge investment during this period.

The government should consider all these factors and safeguard the interests of coffee growers by not taking an unscientific decision like building dams on the Bhadra river, he added.