Madikeri: Villagers protested in Bittangala village near Virajpet against the construction of a resort and luxury villas project.Environmentalist Colonel (Rtd) Muthanna said the project is illegal and warned that if work is not stopped immediately, legal action will follow. Protesters alleged that officials enabled the project by granting permissions in violation of rules. They stated that the land cannot be converted for commercial purposes and claimed that large-scale construction is being carried out illegally in the hilly region. They warned that such activity poses a serious threat to Bittangala village, especially given the area’s vulnerability to landslides and past incidents of land subsidence.
Protesters alleged that the district administration violated an order of the high court. Referring to the 2018 Kodagu landslide disaster the protesters said that the govt banned work in landslide-prone areas. They noted that land subsidence occurred on the same hill earlier and warned that continued construction could endanger or destroy the village.Activist Rajeev Bopaiah urged local MLAs to intervene and ensure appropriate action.
