By P.T. Bopanna
There is something seriously wrong with the Kodagu (Coorg) district administration which is axing trees to make way for an amusement park at Raja’s Seat in Madikeri city in Karnataka.
Raja’s Seat is considered as one of the most scenic spots in South India which offers a breath-taking view of towering hills and green valleys, studded with paddy fields.
Instead of maintaining the pristine beauty of the park, the administration is putting up statues of elephant (in picture), and other animals. Though the statues were there earlier, new models have been purchased.
Senior assistant director of horticulture K.P. Devakki clarified that they proposed to remove ‘diseased’ trees in the interest of public safety. She told the news portal www.coorgnews.in that several trees in the park were marked for removal. However, since there was public outrage following the removal of a tree near the entrance to the park, they have written to the forest department not to axe anymore trees till further notice.
Asked why such a huge model of the elephant was being put up in the park, she said they could move it to other parks in the town if the statue was found unsuitable at Raja’s Seat.
Ideally, Raja’s Seat does not need any artificial beautification. Already successive administrations have spoiled the beauty of the park with musical fountains and other attractions to cater to tourists who are mostly interested in merry-making and least interested in enjoying the beauty of nature.
The Raja’s Seat, which means the “Seat of Kings”, is a brick and mortar structure with four pillars. It was a spot from where the kings of Kodagu watched glorious sunsets.
The spot attracts lot of tourists and morning walkers. For the nature lover, the ideal time to visit the spot is in the morning when the first rays of the sun pierces through the mist covered valley.
