Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Aug 10: Due to the huge landslide which happened at Talakaveri on Wednesday last week, chief priest of Talakaveri temple, Narayan Achar, and four others lost their lives. The environmentalists have blamed excessive human interference in environmentally sensitive areas for the phenomenon.

In August 2019, a huge crack had appeared in the ground over the Brahmagiri hill, Talakaveri. The crack later extended to the 'Kundike' area where River Cauvery emerges.

The district administration had sought a geological survey of India report. It was said that the small crack which had appeared on the surface of the slope on the hill had expanded into a minor landslide. A few trenches were dug by the forest department to which parallel connections are given. It had been suggested to close the cracks by filling them. But no steps were taken to do that. In September last year, sand-filled into the cracks.

In the past, when the water shortage was experienced in Kaveri Kundike, some had suggested to set up a rainwater harvesting unit over Brahmagiri hill. The then chief minister B S Yediyurappa had released grants for the same. In 2016, this project was completed, as a result of which water availability in the Kundike got augmented. The retired executive officer of Coorg Temples Grants Committee, Sampat Kumar, says that after several trees were cut for laying a road to the resort at the View Point at Talakaveri, minor landslides had begun to happen. Tammu Poovayya of Kodagu Unification Committee blames unscientific road construction and unscientific cable wire works as being responsible for this phenomenon.

They say that the installation of huge earth movers’ engines and unscientific works have given rise to an imbalance of nature in this eco-sensitive region.