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EVICTION OF ENCROACHERS OF ‘SACRED FORESTS’ IN KODAGU (COORG) HAS SENT SHOCKWAVES AMONG GROWERS

By P.T. Bopanna

The forest department in Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka has started evicting persons who have encroached on Devarakadu (sacred forests).

The department recently removed 800 coffee plants grown by Kaalachanda Naniyappa near Somwarpet.

The local range forest officer claimed the grower had encroached on the sacred grove which is a notified area.

According to a report the grower has cut several trees in the sacred grove area despite warning from the department.

The action of the forest department has sent shockwaves in the planting community in Somwarpet and the people have decided to launch a struggle to prevent eviction by the forest authorities.

Kodagu district is part of the Western Ghats region, is described as one of the hot spots of biodiversity in the world.

The Kodava community believes that Devarakadus as the abode of Gods where felling of trees is prohibited. Every village has a devarakadu and these groves are an important storehouse of biodiversity.

Due to encroachment, the area of devrakadu has reduced from 15,000 acres to 9,000 acres.

Traditionally, the devarakadus are dedicated to the local forest deities and felling of trees and clearing fallen branches are prohibited.

In 2024, the Supreme Court had ordered in a case involving Rajasthan that the sacred groves should be mapped and notifed as ‘community reserves’.